A numerical experiment on the Adelaide Gully Wind of South Australia

A three-dimensional, nonhydrostatic, terrain-following numerical model was used to investigate the Adelaide Gully Wind of South Australia, and it reproduced well this severe downslope wind. Simulational results showed that onset and strength of the Adelaide Gully Wind is critically dependent on the upstream wind and potential temperature profiles, and the appearance of this local wind is also strongly influenced by the complicated three-dimensional effect of the real topography. Sensitivity study of the numerical model showed that a horizontal grid size of 1 km is required to resolve the fine structure of the Adelaide Gully Wind.