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Climatology

The Terrain-Induced Rotor ExperimentThe Terrain-Induced Rotor Experiment

 

Project Description

The Terrain-Induced Rotor Experiment, or T-REX, is a coordinated research effort to explore the structure and evolution of atmospheric rotors and associated phenomena in complex terrain. Atmospheric rotors are intense low level horizontal vortices that form along an axis parallel to, and downstream of, a mountain ridge crest. The research program is sponsored by the Atmospheric Sciences Division of the National Science Foundation (NSF) with participations from a dozen universities and research organizations across the United States. Several research groups from United Kingdom, Germany, and Austria are also participating in the program.

Michigan State University’s participation in T-REX is supported by NSF through a collaborative research grant with the University of Utah. The specific objectives are to improve the understanding of 1) the interactions between the mountain boundary layer in the deep Owens Valley of California and the formation of lee waves and rotors, 2) the interaction of wave/rotor flows and valley wind systems including diurnal thermally-driven flows, channeled flows, and the turbulent erosion of valley cold pools, and 3) the climatology of windstorm events in the Owens Valley and the relationship to synoptic weather events.  During the field phase of T-REX program in March and April of 2006, MSU, University of Houston, and University of Utah scientists took observations from a series of temperature data loggers, a flux tower measuring all components of the surface energy balance, and a sodar which collects continuous vertical profiles of horizontal winds using sound waves. The T-REX data are being analyzed together with historical data to answer questions regarding valley boundary layer development and terrain induced flows.

Data

The data collected by our SODAR and Flux Tower at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory during T-REX field campaign can be accessed through the T-REX data page at:

Publications

Presentations

Photos

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Sodar
Sodar at the UH site located at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory during T-REX

Sodar at the UH site
Tower
Flux tower at the UH site at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory during T-REX

Flux tower at UH site

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