Wake Response to an Ocean-Feedback Mechanism: Madeira Island Case Study

• Published in: Boundary-layer meteorology Vol. 148; no. 2; pp. 419 - 436
• Main Authors: Caldeira, Rui M. A., Tomé, Ricardo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.08.2013; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adiabatic flow; Analysis; Archipelagoes; Atmospheric boundary layer; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Atmospheric Sciences; Atmospherics; Boundary conditions; Case studies; Climatology; Convection, turbulence, diffusion. Boundary layer structure and dynamics; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Evaporation; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Gravity waves; Internal waves; Islands; Mathematical models; Meteorology; Mountains; Nuclear radiation; Ocean-atmosphere interaction; Planetary boundary layer; Sea surface temperature; Solar radiation; Wakes; Weather; Weather forecasting; Atlantic Ocean Islands; Madeira Islands; Madeira, Madeira I; ASE, Atlantic, Madeira; Air-sea interaction; Resonance waves; Inertial gravity waves; Convective boundary layer; Marine atmospheric boundary layer; Marine atmosphere; Gravity inertial wave; case studies; ocean-atmosphere interaction; resonance; Wake; feedback; Mixed layer; Atmospheric boundary layer
• ISSN: 0006-8314; 1573-1472
• DOI: 10.1007/s10546-013-9817-y

We focus on an island wake episode that occurred in the Madeira Archipelago region of the north-east Atlantic at . The Weather Research and Forecasting numerical model was used in a (one-way) downscaling mode, considering initial and boundary conditions from the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts system. The current literature emphasizes adiabatic effects on the dynamical aspects of atmospheric wakes. Changes in mountain height and consequently its relation to the atmospheric inversion layer should explain the shift in wake regimes, from a ‘strong-wake’ to ‘weak-wake’ scenario. Nevertheless, changes in sea-surface temperature variability in the lee of an island can induce similar regime shifts because of exposure to stronger solar radiation. Increase in evaporation contributes to the enhancement of convection and thus to the uplift of the stratified atmospheric layer above the critical height, with subsequent internal gravity wave activity.