Dynamics of Coastal Deserts

本研究的目的是了解主要大陆西海岸沙漠存在的原因。项目将进行两项模拟研究，目的是调查某些过程在维持沙漠方面的作用。第一部分将探讨海岸低空流代表安第斯山脉阻挡的惯性边界流的可能性。第二部分将研究由沿海上升流引起的热梯度对当地环流模式的影响。这项研究对于提高我们对大气环流和气候状况的理论认识具有重要意义。

The purpose of this research is to understand the reasons for the existence of the deserts on the west coasts of major continents. The PI will carry out two modeling studies which are designed to investigate the roles of certain processes in the maintenance of the deserts. The first will explore the possibility that the longshore coastal low level flow represents an inertial boundary current blocked by the Andes. The second will look at the influence of the thermal gradient, caused by coastal upwelling, on the local circulation patterns. This research is importnat for improving our theoretical understanding of the general atmospheric circulation and climate regimes.