A estrutura do vento varia de acordo com as características do terreno e com a rugosidade da superfície terrestre, desacelerando proporcionalmente sua intensidade de acordo com a proximidade do solo, o que determina a constituição da camada limite atmosférica (C.L.A.). As características do escoamento sobre e no entorno de características topográficas obtusas tais como morros são de grande interesse em muitas aplicações, especialmente aquelas ligadas à engenharia de vento. Esta pesquisa foca a investigação da C.L.A. sobre terrenos complexos, analisando a estrutura do escoamento turbulento, a separação e a recomposição do mesmo. Para tanto, dois métodos são empregados e comparados na presente investigação para identificar a influência da orografia complexa sobre o escoamento do vento: padrões ou códigos de carga de vento e análises experimentais em túnel de vento. Nove modelos experimentais de morros isolados, sendo quatro simétricos bidimensionais, quatro simétricos tridimensionais e um assimétrico, todos com a consideração de dois tipos de terreno, categoria I – plano e categorias III-IV – medianamente rugosas são analisados. A partir de uma simulação experimental da camada limite em túnel de vento, é possível parametrizar os efeitos do vento sobre terrenos complexos (MILLER, 1995). A definição de variáveis, tais como: o perfil de velocidade do vento, a intensidade de turbulência, os efeitos topográficos na velocidade do vento constituem-se em elementos fundamentais para cálculos estruturais de edificações situadas no entorno. Foram desenvolvidas simulações experimentais no túnel de vento de camada limite Prof. Joaquim Blessmann, da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Na superfície do modelo assimétrico, na radial principal do mesmo, foram localizados nove perfis de medição, contendo cada um, vinte alturas de investigação. Os demais modelos tiveram como foco de análise o cume dos mesmos, também com perfis definidos nas mesmas alturas. As medições da velocidade do vento e da intensidade da turbulência foram procedidas por um sistema de anemometria de fio quente. Os dados obtidos em túnel de vento foram confrontados com expressões empíricas calculadas para os mesmos pontos segundo cinco códigos ou padrões de carga de vento, pontuando também as correlações entre os mesmos e entre estes com a norma brasileira NBR 6123 (1988). Os modelos, códigos ou padrões analisados foram: Jackson e Hunt (1975) e Davenport, Surry e Lemelin (1988), models e as normas a seguir nominadas:Norma Brasileira: cargas de vento em Edificações - NBR 6123 (1988); European Standard:Eurocode1: Basis of Design and Actions on Structures, CEN TC 250: 2002; Australian/New Zealand Standard: Minimum Design Loads on Structures, AS/NZS 1170.2: 2002; Architectural Institute of Japan AIJ: 2004; American Society of Civil Engineering Standard, ASCE 7-95 (ASCE 7-95), Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures;National Building Code of Canada, 2005, (NRCC 2005). Além do estudo comparativo acerca da resposta estimada pelos códigos nominados, esta pesquisa constitui-se em um banco de dados de medições em pontos localizados nos morros nominados, em túnel de vento. O comparativo entre os padrões mostra a inexistência de uma harmonização entre os mesmos para a consideração dos parâmetros a serem empregues para o cálculo de cargas de vento. Estas diferenças na definição dos parâmetros básicos para o carregamento de vento em estruturas determinam grandes dificuldades na unificação de formatos recomendados na previsão das cargas de vento. Comparativamente aos dados experimentais, os padrões, em geral, mostram-se conservadores para os dois tipos de morros analisados, simétrico e assimétrico, para os dois tipos de terreno, tanto considerando-se análises em 2D ou 3D. / The structure of the wind varies with the characteristics of the terrain and roughness land surface, slowing its intensity proportionally according to the surrounding terrain, which determines the onset of boundary layer (ABL). The characteristics of the flow over and around topographic features such as hills are of great interest in many applications, especially those related to wind engineering. From an experimental simulation of the boundary layer wind tunnel, it is possible to parameterize the effects of wind over complex terrain (MILLER, 1995). The definition of variables, such as the profile of wind speed, the turbulence intensity, the topographic effects on wind speed are key elements in structural calculations for buildings situated around the area. This research focuses on the investigation of the ABL complex terrain conditions, analyzing the structure of turbulent flow and characterization of separation and reattachment of the flow. Experimental simulations were developed in the wind tunnel of the atmospheric boundary layer Prof. Joaquim Blessmann, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in nine models of hills, four symmetrical two-dimensional, four- symmetrical threedimensional and one asymmetrical, all considering two types of terrain, category I - plan and Category III-IV- moderately rough. The surface of the asymmetric model was measured in nine profiles ploted on the main radial of the hill, with twenty heights each, and the other models were examined at top of the hill. The measurements were performed with a system of hot wire anemometry to measure the wind velocity and intensity of turbulence. The identification of the data obtained in the wind tunnel were confronted with empirical expressions for the same points, in order to establish the correlations between patterns and among these with NBR 6123 (1988). Two models and five codes of wind loads are analyzed: Jackson and Hunt (1975) and e Davenport, Surry e Lemelin (1988) Models and Brazilian Association of Technical Standards: Wind Load on Buildings, NBR 6123 (1988); European Standard: Eurocode1: Basis of Design and Actions on Structures, CEN TC 250: 2002; Australian/New Zealand Standard: Minimum Design Loads on Structures, AS/NZS 1170.2: 2002; Architectural Institute of Japan AIJ: 2004; American Society of Civil Engineering Standard, ASCE 7-95 (ASCE 7-95), Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures; National Building Code of Canada, 2005, (NRCC 2005) codes. This study focuses not only the comparison of the response estimated by international codes nominees, but also a data bank of wind tunnel data to validate this tool based on empirical expressions. The comparison of the patterns shows a lack of consideration for international harmonization of the parameters to be employed for the calculations of wind loads. These differences in defining the basic parameters for the wind loading on structures determines difficulties to unify the formats recommended in the prediction of wind loads. Compared to the experimental data, the patterns will generally show up conservative for both types of mounts analyzed, symmetrical and asymmetrical, for both types of terrain, both considering 2D or 3D.

A estrutura do vento varia de acordo com as características do terreno e com a rugosidade da superfície terrestre, desacelerando proporcionalmente sua intensidade de acordo com a proximidade do solo, o que determina a constituição da camada limite atmosférica (C.L.A.). As características do escoamento sobre e no entorno de características topográficas obtusas tais como morros são de grande interesse em muitas aplicações, especialmente aquelas ligadas à engenharia de vento. Esta pesquisa foca a investigação da C.L.A. sobre terrenos complexos, analisando a estrutura do escoamento turbulento, a separação e a recomposição do mesmo. Para tanto, dois métodos são empregados e comparados na presente investigação para identificar a influência da orografia complexa sobre o escoamento do vento: padrões ou códigos de carga de vento e análises experimentais em túnel de vento. Nove modelos experimentais de morros isolados, sendo quatro simétricos bidimensionais, quatro simétricos tridimensionais e um assimétrico, todos com a consideração de dois tipos de terreno, categoria I – plano e categorias III-IV – medianamente rugosas são analisados. A partir de uma simulação experimental da camada limite em túnel de vento, é possível parametrizar os efeitos do vento sobre terrenos complexos (MILLER, 1995). A definição de variáveis, tais como: o perfil de velocidade do vento, a intensidade de turbulência, os efeitos topográficos na velocidade do vento constituem-se em elementos fundamentais para cálculos estruturais de edificações situadas no entorno. Foram desenvolvidas simulações experimentais no túnel de vento de camada limite Prof. Joaquim Blessmann, da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Na superfície do modelo assimétrico, na radial principal do mesmo, foram localizados nove perfis de medição, contendo cada um, vinte alturas de investigação. Os demais modelos tiveram como foco de análise o cume dos mesmos, também com perfis definidos nas mesmas alturas. As medições da velocidade do vento e da intensidade da turbulência foram procedidas por um sistema de anemometria de fio quente. Os dados obtidos em túnel de vento foram confrontados com expressões empíricas calculadas para os mesmos pontos segundo cinco códigos ou padrões de carga de vento, pontuando também as correlações entre os mesmos e entre estes com a norma brasileira NBR 6123 (1988). Os modelos, códigos ou padrões analisados foram: Jackson e Hunt (1975) e Davenport, Surry e Lemelin (1988), models e as normas a seguir nominadas:Norma Brasileira: cargas de vento em Edificações - NBR 6123 (1988); European Standard:Eurocode1: Basis of Design and Actions on Structures, CEN TC 250: 2002; Australian/New Zealand Standard: Minimum Design Loads on Structures, AS/NZS 1170.2: 2002; Architectural Institute of Japan AIJ: 2004; American Society of Civil Engineering Standard, ASCE 7-95 (ASCE 7-95), Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures;National Building Code of Canada, 2005, (NRCC 2005). Além do estudo comparativo acerca da resposta estimada pelos códigos nominados, esta pesquisa constitui-se em um banco de dados de medições em pontos localizados nos morros nominados, em túnel de vento. O comparativo entre os padrões mostra a inexistência de uma harmonização entre os mesmos para a consideração dos parâmetros a serem empregues para o cálculo de cargas de vento. Estas diferenças na definição dos parâmetros básicos para o carregamento de vento em estruturas determinam grandes dificuldades na unificação de formatos recomendados na previsão das cargas de vento. Comparativamente aos dados experimentais, os padrões, em geral, mostram-se conservadores para os dois tipos de morros analisados, simétrico e assimétrico, para os dois tipos de terreno, tanto considerando-se análises em 2D ou 3D. / The structure of the wind varies with the characteristics of the terrain and roughness land surface, slowing its intensity proportionally according to the surrounding terrain, which determines the onset of boundary layer (ABL). The characteristics of the flow over and around topographic features such as hills are of great interest in many applications, especially those related to wind engineering. From an experimental simulation of the boundary layer wind tunnel, it is possible to parameterize the effects of wind over complex terrain (MILLER, 1995). The definition of variables, such as the profile of wind speed, the turbulence intensity, the topographic effects on wind speed are key elements in structural calculations for buildings situated around the area. This research focuses on the investigation of the ABL complex terrain conditions, analyzing the structure of turbulent flow and characterization of separation and reattachment of the flow. Experimental simulations were developed in the wind tunnel of the atmospheric boundary layer Prof. Joaquim Blessmann, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in nine models of hills, four symmetrical two-dimensional, four- symmetrical threedimensional and one asymmetrical, all considering two types of terrain, category I - plan and Category III-IV- moderately rough. The surface of the asymmetric model was measured in nine profiles ploted on the main radial of the hill, with twenty heights each, and the other models were examined at top of the hill. The measurements were performed with a system of hot wire anemometry to measure the wind velocity and intensity of turbulence. The identification of the data obtained in the wind tunnel were confronted with empirical expressions for the same points, in order to establish the correlations between patterns and among these with NBR 6123 (1988). Two models and five codes of wind loads are analyzed: Jackson and Hunt (1975) and e Davenport, Surry e Lemelin (1988) Models and Brazilian Association of Technical Standards: Wind Load on Buildings, NBR 6123 (1988); European Standard: Eurocode1: Basis of Design and Actions on Structures, CEN TC 250: 2002; Australian/New Zealand Standard: Minimum Design Loads on Structures, AS/NZS 1170.2: 2002; Architectural Institute of Japan AIJ: 2004; American Society of Civil Engineering Standard, ASCE 7-95 (ASCE 7-95), Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures; National Building Code of Canada, 2005, (NRCC 2005) codes. This study focuses not only the comparison of the response estimated by international codes nominees, but also a data bank of wind tunnel data to validate this tool based on empirical expressions. The comparison of the patterns shows a lack of consideration for international harmonization of the parameters to be employed for the calculations of wind loads. These differences in defining the basic parameters for the wind loading on structures determines difficulties to unify the formats recommended in the prediction of wind loads. Compared to the experimental data, the patterns will generally show up conservative for both types of mounts analyzed, symmetrical and asymmetrical, for both types of terrain, both considering 2D or 3D.

A estrutura do vento varia de acordo com as características do terreno e com a rugosidade da superfície terrestre, desacelerando proporcionalmente sua intensidade de acordo com a proximidade do solo, o que determina a constituição da camada limite atmosférica (C.L.A.). As características do escoamento sobre e no entorno de características topográficas obtusas tais como morros são de grande interesse em muitas aplicações, especialmente aquelas ligadas à engenharia de vento. Esta pesquisa foca a investigação da C.L.A. sobre terrenos complexos, analisando a estrutura do escoamento turbulento, a separação e a recomposição do mesmo. Para tanto, dois métodos são empregados e comparados na presente investigação para identificar a influência da orografia complexa sobre o escoamento do vento: padrões ou códigos de carga de vento e análises experimentais em túnel de vento. Nove modelos experimentais de morros isolados, sendo quatro simétricos bidimensionais, quatro simétricos tridimensionais e um assimétrico, todos com a consideração de dois tipos de terreno, categoria I – plano e categorias III-IV – medianamente rugosas são analisados. A partir de uma simulação experimental da camada limite em túnel de vento, é possível parametrizar os efeitos do vento sobre terrenos complexos (MILLER, 1995). A definição de variáveis, tais como: o perfil de velocidade do vento, a intensidade de turbulência, os efeitos topográficos na velocidade do vento constituem-se em elementos fundamentais para cálculos estruturais de edificações situadas no entorno. Foram desenvolvidas simulações experimentais no túnel de vento de camada limite Prof. Joaquim Blessmann, da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Na superfície do modelo assimétrico, na radial principal do mesmo, foram localizados nove perfis de medição, contendo cada um, vinte alturas de investigação. Os demais modelos tiveram como foco de análise o cume dos mesmos, também com perfis definidos nas mesmas alturas. As medições da velocidade do vento e da intensidade da turbulência foram procedidas por um sistema de anemometria de fio quente. Os dados obtidos em túnel de vento foram confrontados com expressões empíricas calculadas para os mesmos pontos segundo cinco códigos ou padrões de carga de vento, pontuando também as correlações entre os mesmos e entre estes com a norma brasileira NBR 6123 (1988). Os modelos, códigos ou padrões analisados foram: Jackson e Hunt (1975) e Davenport, Surry e Lemelin (1988), models e as normas a seguir nominadas:Norma Brasileira: cargas de vento em Edificações - NBR 6123 (1988); European Standard:Eurocode1: Basis of Design and Actions on Structures, CEN TC 250: 2002; Australian/New Zealand Standard: Minimum Design Loads on Structures, AS/NZS 1170.2: 2002; Architectural Institute of Japan AIJ: 2004; American Society of Civil Engineering Standard, ASCE 7-95 (ASCE 7-95), Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures;National Building Code of Canada, 2005, (NRCC 2005). Além do estudo comparativo acerca da resposta estimada pelos códigos nominados, esta pesquisa constitui-se em um banco de dados de medições em pontos localizados nos morros nominados, em túnel de vento. O comparativo entre os padrões mostra a inexistência de uma harmonização entre os mesmos para a consideração dos parâmetros a serem empregues para o cálculo de cargas de vento. Estas diferenças na definição dos parâmetros básicos para o carregamento de vento em estruturas determinam grandes dificuldades na unificação de formatos recomendados na previsão das cargas de vento. Comparativamente aos dados experimentais, os padrões, em geral, mostram-se conservadores para os dois tipos de morros analisados, simétrico e assimétrico, para os dois tipos de terreno, tanto considerando-se análises em 2D ou 3D. / The structure of the wind varies with the characteristics of the terrain and roughness land surface, slowing its intensity proportionally according to the surrounding terrain, which determines the onset of boundary layer (ABL). The characteristics of the flow over and around topographic features such as hills are of great interest in many applications, especially those related to wind engineering. From an experimental simulation of the boundary layer wind tunnel, it is possible to parameterize the effects of wind over complex terrain (MILLER, 1995). The definition of variables, such as the profile of wind speed, the turbulence intensity, the topographic effects on wind speed are key elements in structural calculations for buildings situated around the area. This research focuses on the investigation of the ABL complex terrain conditions, analyzing the structure of turbulent flow and characterization of separation and reattachment of the flow. Experimental simulations were developed in the wind tunnel of the atmospheric boundary layer Prof. Joaquim Blessmann, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in nine models of hills, four symmetrical two-dimensional, four- symmetrical threedimensional and one asymmetrical, all considering two types of terrain, category I - plan and Category III-IV- moderately rough. The surface of the asymmetric model was measured in nine profiles ploted on the main radial of the hill, with twenty heights each, and the other models were examined at top of the hill. The measurements were performed with a system of hot wire anemometry to measure the wind velocity and intensity of turbulence. The identification of the data obtained in the wind tunnel were confronted with empirical expressions for the same points, in order to establish the correlations between patterns and among these with NBR 6123 (1988). Two models and five codes of wind loads are analyzed: Jackson and Hunt (1975) and e Davenport, Surry e Lemelin (1988) Models and Brazilian Association of Technical Standards: Wind Load on Buildings, NBR 6123 (1988); European Standard: Eurocode1: Basis of Design and Actions on Structures, CEN TC 250: 2002; Australian/New Zealand Standard: Minimum Design Loads on Structures, AS/NZS 1170.2: 2002; Architectural Institute of Japan AIJ: 2004; American Society of Civil Engineering Standard, ASCE 7-95 (ASCE 7-95), Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures; National Building Code of Canada, 2005, (NRCC 2005) codes. This study focuses not only the comparison of the response estimated by international codes nominees, but also a data bank of wind tunnel data to validate this tool based on empirical expressions. The comparison of the patterns shows a lack of consideration for international harmonization of the parameters to be employed for the calculations of wind loads. These differences in defining the basic parameters for the wind loading on structures determines difficulties to unify the formats recommended in the prediction of wind loads. Compared to the experimental data, the patterns will generally show up conservative for both types of mounts analyzed, symmetrical and asymmetrical, for both types of terrain, both considering 2D or 3D.

Le développement de la production d'énergie éolienne nécessite des méthodes précises et bien établies pour l'évaluation de la ressource éolienne, étape essentielle dans la phase avant-projet d'une future ferme. Au cours de ces deux dernières décennies, les modèles d'écoulements linéaires ont été largement utilisés dans l'industrie éolienne pour l'évaluation de la ressource et pour la définition de la disposition des turbines. Cependant, les incertitudes des modèles linéaires dans la prévision de la vitesse du vent sur terrain complexe sont bien connues. Elles conduisent à l'utilisation de modèles CFD, capables de modéliser les écoulements complexes de manière précise autour de caractéristiques géographiques spécifiques. Les modèles méso-échelle peuvent prédire le régime de vent à des résolutions de plusieurs kilomètres mais ne sont pas bien adaptés pour résoudre les échelles spatiales inférieures à quelques centaines de mètres. Les modèles de CFD peuvent capter les détails des écoulements atmosphériques à plus petite échelle, mais nécessitent de documenter précisément les conditions aux limites. Ainsi, le couplage entre un modèle méso-échelle et un modèle CFD doit permettre d'améliorer la modélisation fine de l'écoulement pour les applications dans le domaine de l'énergie éolienne en comparaison avec les approches opérationnelles actuelles. Une campagne de mesure d'un an a été réalisée sur un terrain complexe dans le sud de la France durant la période 2007-2008. Elle a permis de fournir une base de données bien documentée à la fois pour les paramètres d'entrée et les données de validation. La nouvelle méthodologie proposée vise notamment à répondre à deux problématiques: le couplage entre le modèle méso-échelle et le modèle CFD en prenant en compte une forte variation spatiale de la topographie sur les bords du domaine de simulation, et les erreurs de prédiction du modèle méso-échelle. Le travail réalisé ici a consisté à optimiser le calcul du vent sur chaque face d'entrée du modèle CFD à partir des valeurs issues des verticales du modèle de méso-échelle, puis à mettre en œuvre une assimilation de données basée sur la relaxation newtonienne (nudging). La chaîne de modèles considérée ici est composée du modèle de prévision de Météo-France ALADIN et du code de CFD open-source Code_Saturne. Le potentiel éolien est ensuite calculé en utilisant une méthode de clustering, permettant de regrouper les conditions météorologiques similaires et ainsi réduire le nombre de simulations CFD nécessaires pour reproduire un an (ou plus) d'écoulement atmosphérique sur le site considéré. La procédure d'assimilation est réalisée avec des mesures issues d'anémomètre à coupelles ou soniques. Une analyse détaillée des simulations avec imbrication et avec ou sans assimilation de données est d'abord présentée pour les deux directions de vent dominantes, avec en particulier une étude de sensibilité aux paramètres intervenant dans l'imbrication et dans l'assimilation. La dernière partie du travail est consacrée au calcul du potentiel éolien en utilisant une méthode de clustering. La vitesse annuelle moyenne du vent est calculée avec et sans assimilation, puis est comparée avec les mesures non assimilées et les résultats du modèle WAsP. L'amélioration apportée par l'assimilation de données sur la distribution des écarts avec les mesures est ainsi quantifiée pour différentes configurations / The development of wind energy generation requires precise and well-established methods for wind resource assessment, which is the initial step in every wind farm project. During the last two decades linear flow models were widely used in the wind industry for wind resource assessment and micro-siting. But the linear models inaccuracies in predicting the wind speeds in very complex terrain are well known and led to use of CFD, capable of modeling the complex flow in details around specific geographic features. Mesoscale models (NWP) are able to predict the wind regime at resolutions of several kilometers, but are not well suited to resolve the wind speed and turbulence induced by the topography features on the scale of a few hundred meters. CFD has proven successful in capturing flow details at smaller scales, but needs an accurate specification of the inlet conditions. Thus coupling NWP and CFD models is a better modeling approach for wind energy applications. A one-year field measurement campaign carried out in a complex terrain in southern France during 2007-2008 provides a well documented data set both for input and validation data. The proposed new methodology aims to address two problems: the high spatial variation of the topography on the domain lateral boundaries, and the prediction errors of the mesoscale model. It is applied in this work using the open source CFD code Code_Saturne, coupled with the mesoscale forecast model of Météo-France (ALADIN). The improvement is obtained by combining the mesoscale data as inlet condition and field measurement data assimilation into the CFD model. Newtonian relaxation (nudging) data assimilation technique is used to incorporate the measurement data into the CFD simulations. The methodology to reconstruct long term averages uses a clustering process to group the similar meteorological conditions and to reduce the number of CFD simulations needed to reproduce 1 year of atmospheric flow over the site. The assimilation procedure is carried out with either sonic or cup anemometers measurements. First a detailed analysis of the results obtained with the mesoscale-CFD coupling and with or without data assimilation is shown for two main wind directions, including a sensitivity study to the parameters involved in the coupling and in the nudging. The last part of the work is devoted to the estimate of the wind potential using clustering. A comparison of the annual mean wind speed with measurements that do not enter the assimilation process and with the WAsP model is presented. The improvement provided by the data assimilation on the distribution of differences with measurements is shown on the wind speed and direction for different configurations

Spatial distribution of precipitation in complex terrain can be very uneven and there are many factors to consider when studying it. The goal of this study was such a problem; to analyse the difference in observed annual precipitation in the complex terrain of Seyðisfjörður, a fjord in East-Iceland. The study was carried out in three parts. First, it was investigated if there was a systematic difference between measurement methods using different instruments. Second, the effect of the complex terrain on the spatial distribution of precipitation was investigated, and lastly if this observed difference could be linked to any certain kind of weather regimes. To simplify the analysis, only liquid precipitation was included in the data set.  In Seyðisfjörður there are three divergently located precipitation gauges of three different types and set up. At the Icelandic Meteorological Office in Reykjavík the same type of gauges are co-located with the exact same set up as in Seyðisfjörður. A statistical analysis of those measurements showed that there is a systematic undercatch in tipping bucket gauges compared to weighted capacity and standard accumulation gauges. However, the difference is insignificant in size compared to the observed difference in the complex terrain. The complex terrain was found to highly affect the airflow and therefore the spatial distribution of precipitation, as it almost only rains in synoptic wind directions with an easterly component (measured at a mountain station). To connect events where there was a great difference in precipitation measurements to the synoptic weather situation over the North-Atlantic, a projection connecting the geostrophic and local winds in the fjord was made. It showed that great precipitation as well as when great differences are observed, during two kind of weather regimes. One where a low pressure is travelling along the North-Atlantic storm track to the Norwegian Sea. The other were a low pressure is stationed southwest or west of Iceland in the Irminger Sea and a high pressure stretching up over Scandinavia. Convective precipitation makes up for a minimal part of the total precipitation and is not linked to events with great observed difference. Events with considerable precipitation but little observed difference are fewer and smaller than the events with much great observed precipitation and differences.

Two measures of air temperature trends across southern Yukon and northern British Columbia were modelled based on measurements from 83 monitoring sites across seven areas, operating for up to 14 years. Both mean monthly air temperature (MMAT) and freezing and thawing degree days (FDD and TDD, respectively) were modelled across this area (59 °N to 64.5 °N) at elevations ranging from 330-1480 m asl. Lapse rates in this region show inversions in the winter months (November - March) varying in inversion strength and length in relation to degree of continentality. The spatial and elevation range of these sites allowed for regional lapse rate modelling at the monthly scale for MMAT and at the annual scale for FDD and TDD. Lapse rates below treeline were found to be correlated (p < 0.1) with degree of continentality in the colder months (November - April) and August. In these months, lapse rates were modelled using kriging trend surfaces. In months where degree of continentality was not found to have a significant impact on lapse rates (p > 0.1) (May - October, excluding August), an average lapse rate calculated from the seven study regions was used across the study region. A combination of lapse rate trend surfaces, elevation, and temperatures at sea level were used to model MMAT and F/TDD below treeline. A treeline trend surface was created using a 4th order polynomial, allowing for temperatures at treeline to be determined. MMAT and F/TDD above treeline were calculated using a constant lapse rate of -6 °C/km, elevation, and temperature at treeline. The above and below treeline models were combined to create continuous models of MMAT and F/TDD. Modelled MMAT showed a high degree of homogeneity across the study region in warmer months. Inversions in lapse rates are evident in the colder months, especially December through February, when colder temperatures are easily identified in valley bottoms, increasing to treeline, and decreasing above treeline. Modelled MMAT values were validated using 20 sites across the study region, using both Environment and Climate Change Canada and University of Ottawa sites. The RMSE between modelled and observed MMAT was highest in January (4.4 °C) and lowest in June (0.7 °C). Sites below treeline showed a stronger relationship between modelled and observed values than sites above treeline. Edge effects of the model were evident in the northeast of the study region as well as in the ice fields in the southwest along the Alaska border. The new MMAT maps can be used to help understand species range change, underlying permafrost conditions, and climate patterns over time. FDD values were found to be highly influenced by both degree of continentality as well as latitude, whereas TDD values were mainly dependent on elevation, with degree of continentality and latitude being lesser influences. FDD and TDD were validated using the same 20 sites across the study region, with FDD showing a larger RMSE (368 degree days) between modelled and observed values than TDD (150 degree days). TDD modelling performed better on average, with a lower average absolute difference (254 degree days) between modelled and observed values at the validation sites than FDD modelling (947 degree days). The models of FDD and TDD represent a component of temperature at top of permafrost (TTOP) modelling for future studies. Two mean annual air temperature (MAAT) maps were created, one calculated from the MMAT models, and the other from the F/TDD models. Most of the study region showed negative MAAT, mainly between -6 °C and 0 °C for both methods. The average MAAT calculated from FDD and TDD values was -2.4 ºC, whereas the average MAAT calculated from MMAT values was -2.8 ºC. Models of MAAT were found to be slightly warmer than in previous studies, potentially indicating warming temperature trends.

The present work combines experimental and numerical analyses to improve current understanding of turbulence in stably stratified flows. An extensive literature review is presented on the mechanisms governing turbulence under stratified conditions, with a special focus on the Richardson number parameter, as it is often adopted as a switch to turn turbulence modelling on/off. Anisotropization of turbulence is investigated, as it is found to be an important mechanism for turbulence survival at any Richardson number, but usually overlooked in turbulence parameterizations. For this purpose, an experimental dataset previously collected over an Alpine glacier is used, with a focus on the anisotropy of the Reynolds stress tensor, as the scientific community has recently shown improvements in the description of the atmospheric surface layer by taking this aspect into account. Different sources leading stresses to deviate from the isotropic limit are explored, as well as energy exchanges across scales and between kinetic and potential reservoirs, in order to identify the main processes that should be included in turbulence parameterizations to properly represent anisotropic turbulence under stable conditions. High-resolution numerical simulations are then performed with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to evaluate different PBL parameterizations in reproducing specific stable atmospheric conditions developing over complex terrain, and their influence on the local circulation. For this purpose, two wintertime case studies in a basin-like area of an Alpine valley are investigated. Both are fair-weather episodes with weak synoptic forcing and well-developed diurnal local circulations, differing by the thermal stratification in the basin. In particular, the influence of thermal stratification on the outbreak of a valley-exit wind coming from a tributary valley is investigated, and the influence of such type of flows on turbulence anisotropy in stably stratified conditions is discussed for future investigations.

Les régimes dynamiques dans les basses couches de l’atmosphère à l’île de la Réunion sont conditionnés par l’action du relief et du rayonnement sur l’écoulement synoptique. L’île est située en permanence dans le flux des alizés de sud-est et son relief élevé, culminant à 3000 m dans le centre de l’île et 2600 m au sud, constitue un obstacle important pour l’écoulement moyen. Le relief, le chauffage différentiel des pentes et le contraste thermique avec l’océan influent sur les échanges locaux entre la couche limite marine et la troposphère libre.L’analyse des phénomènes complexes de l’écoulement atmosphérique au niveau de l’île a pour but initial de caractériser les transferts de polluants émis localement. Cette étude a deux applications : • La première rentre dans le cadre préparatoire à la mise en place, à 2200 m d’altitude sur le Piton Maïdo, de l’observatoire atmosphérique de l’OPAR, à l’horizon 2011. L’objectif est de comprendre les circulations locales induites par le relief et les transports associés afin de discriminer d’éventuelles pollutions par les sources locales sur le signal qui sera mesuré in situ au sommet du Maïdo.• La seconde vise à étudier la diffusion des panaches volcaniques du Piton de la Fournaise. L’éruption majeure d’avril 2007 du volcan réunionnais a montré que des panaches pouvaient générer d’importantes pollutions dans diverses parties de l’île allant jusqu’à poser de réels problèmes environnementaux et de santé publique.Ces applications s’appuient sur une étude par modélisation numérique à haute résolution des écoulements atmosphériques dans les basses couches au niveau de l’île, au moyen du modèle météorologique de recherche MésoNH, permettant de conduire un ensemble de simulations sur cas idéalisés puis sur cas réels avec diffusion de traceurs passifs. / Reunion Island is an isolated mountainous island in Indian Ocean culminating in the center at 3000 m and in the southern part at 2600 m asl and is located in the influence of very regular south-easterly trade winds. The perturbation of the prevailing humid trade wind flow by the complex topography causes large spatial variations in local weather. The analysis of atmospheric circulations at local scale has been conducted with the aim of improving the understanding of small-scale transport and dispersion of pollutants emitted from local sources. This study has two applications:• It takes part in the perspective of the new atmospheric research station of Piton Maïdo, a summit at 2200 m above sea level on the west coast of the island, in the frame of the developing Atmospheric Physics Observatory of La Reunion (Observatoire de Physique de l’Atmosphère de la Réunion, OPAR as French acronym). The objective is to examine to what extent local orographic perturbations of the synoptic wind and local wind systems are responsible for vertical export of air pollutants originating from the island boundary layer, and could affect ground-based measurements at the future Piton Maïdo observatory devoted to the monitoring of background atmospheric composition (greenhouse gases and aerosols).• The second one aims to investigate the behavior of the volcanic plumes from the Piton de la Fournaise. During the April-May 2007 eruption, large amounts of volcanic gases, particles and ash were released into the atmosphere causing air-pollution at several inhabited locations. In this work, the three-dimensional, non-hydrostatic, limited-area numerical model, MESONH, was run in high resolution to simulate features of airflows over Reunion Island in idealized and real conditions. Various passive tracers have been released in the model in order to characterize dynamical processes in the lower atmospheric layers and the related transport of air-masses.

Cette thèse est dédiée à la caractérisation des vents descendants de vallée en terrain complexe d'orographie modérée à moyenne latitude, dans le contexte de la réglementation des rejets atmosphériques de Cadarache. Cadarache est un des centres de recherche du "Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives" (CEA), installé dans une petite vallée (CV) confluente à la vallée de la Durance (DV). Ces deux vallées se distinguent par leur taille, et sont le siège d'écoulements aux caractéristiques différentes en stratification stable. Un forçage synoptique faible associé à un ciel dégagé sont dans la région des conditions fréquentes qui favorisent la stabilité atmosphérique et consécutivement la mauvaise dispersion des polluants, faisant de cette situation un sujet d'intérêt majeur. La campagne de mesure KASCADE (KAtabatic winds and Stability over CAdarache for Dispersion of Effluents) constitue le volet expérimental de l'étude. Réalisée pendant l'hiver 2013 elle a couvert 3 mois d'observation continue et complétée de 23 périodes d'observation intensive (POI). L'analyse montre que les écoulements descendant les vallées de Cadarache (CDV) et de la Durance (DDV) dominent pendant toute la période d'étude. La stabilité s'installant dès le coucher du soleil, le courant CDV s'épaissit progressivement. Le profil de vent en forme de jet présente son maximum à environ 30 m où il atteint 2 à 3 m s-1. Il se maintient toute la nuit et disparaît avec l'inversion de stabilité. Comme la station météorologique du centre manque de capteur de vent dans la CV même, une méthode a été développée pour diagnostiquer le CDV en exploitant l'instrumentation actuelle. Ainsi, si la prévision de ce vent n'est pas à la portée du modèle méso-échelle WRF avec une résolution kilométrique, cette méthode le permet en combinant une descente d'échelle dynamique et statistique. Le vent DDV est identifié comme un vent qui suit l'axe de la vallée, fortement corrélé à la stabilité à l'échelle régionale car il n'apparaît que la nuit lorsque le forçage synoptique est faible. Ce vent n'arrive à Cadarache que 6 à 9 heures après le coucher du soleil avec une grande variabilité. D'un autre côté, il est à son maximum au lever du soleil avant que les processus convectifs ne démarrent, et présente un jet autour de 200 m avec des vitesses de 4 à 8 m s-1 et dont la hauteur est corrélée à la profondeur de la vallée. Dans les simulations avec WRF, malgré des défauts, la DV étant bien résolue avec une maille de 1 km, l'occurrence de ce vent est assez bien simulée. Par ailleurs l'examen de ses caractéristiques spatiales montre qu'il s'agit soit d'un écoulement de drainage, soit d'un écoulement canalisé forcé. Bien qu'on ne dispose pas de données suffisantes pour élucider le mécanisme dominant de déclenchement du vent DDV, les deux précédemment identifiés sont de bons candidats. / Stable stratification can be one of the most penalizing condition concerning pollutants in the atmospheric boundary layer. Over complex terrain under these conditions, the relief may modify the flow. Therefore the knowledge of down-valley wind characteristics influencing the wind field at Cadarache and its close surroundings is crucial for safety regulation in the context of sanitary impact of the site. Cadarache is a CEA research centre and located in the Prealps of southeast France. It is embedded in a small valley, the Cadarache Valley (CV), which is one of the tributaries of the larger Durance Valley (DV). The two valleys are distinct in size and therefore react differently to stable conditions, and are investigated by means of observations (field experiment KASCADE : KAtabatic winds and Stability over CADarache for Dispersion of Effluents) and simulations (the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model). To investigate the valley wind behaviour, the KASCADE campaign has been designed and conducted in the winter of 2013, covering a 3-month period and 23 intensive observation periods (IOP). It resulted in a well-documented campaign, from which the analysis shows that the Cadarache and Durance down-valley (CDV and DDV respectively) winds are both dominant flows during the period of investigation. The CDV wind is a thermally driven flow, with regular wind speeds up to 2 - 3 m s-1 up to 50 m agl. It persists throughout the night and disappears in the early morning with the stability. The current observational network of Cadarache lacks means of measurement for inside CDV wind. This work shows that it can be nowcasted from available meteorological tower observations. Due to the CV small scale, currently a wind forecast on kilometer resolution is out of reach, but the methodology developed here can be used to forecast the wind through a combination of dynamical and statistical downscaling. The DDV wind has been recognized as down-valley oriented, and strongly related to stability at a regional scale, as it exists only after sunset when synoptic forcing is very weak. DDV wind arrival at Cadarache is mostly observed 6 to 9 hours after sunset, but however dominantly present around sunrise, when convectively driven processes are not yet established. Jets are observed mostly at around 200 m agl with wind speeds between 4 and 8 m s-1. Despite some (general) deficiencies of the WRF model, the DDV wind is simulated close to reality thanks to the 1-km resolution allowing a correct representation of the Durance valley orography. The ensemble of 23 simulated IOPs allowed further to characterize the flow in a spatial sense and to recognize drainage and flow channelling as most important candidates for the flow mechanism.

This research was designed to provide an understanding of physical wind mechanisms within the complex terrain of the Great Valley of Eastern Tennessee to assess the impacts of regional air flow with regard to synoptic and mesoscale weather changes, wind direction shifts, and air quality. Meteorological data from 2008–2009 were analyzed from 13 meteorological sites along with associated upper level data. Up to 15 ancillary sites were used for reference. Two-step complete linkage and K-means cluster analyses, synoptic weather studies, and ambient meteorological comparisons were performed to generate hourly wind classifications. These wind regimes revealed seasonal variations of underlying physical wind mechanisms (forced channeled, vertically coupled, pressure-driven, and thermally-driven winds). Synoptic and ambient meteorological analysis (mixing depth, pressure gradient, pressure gradient ratio, atmospheric and surface stability) suggested up to 93% accuracy for the clustered results. Probabilistic prediction schemes of wind flow and wind class change were developed through characterization of flow change data and wind class succession. Data analysis revealed that wind flow in the Great Valley was dominated by forced channeled winds (45–67%) and vertically coupled flow (22–38%). Down-valley pressure-driven and thermally-driven winds also played significant roles (0–17% and 2–20%, respectively), usually accompanied by convergent wind patterns (15–20%) and large wind direction shifts, especially in the Central/Upper Great Valley. The behavior of most wind regimes was associated with detectable pressure differences between the Lower and Upper Great Valley. Mixing depth and synoptic pressure gradients were significant contributors to wind pattern behavior. Up to 15 wind classes and 10 sub-classes were identified in the Central Great Valley with 67 joined classes for the Great Valley at-large. Two-thirds of Great Valley at-large flow was defined by 12 classes. Winds flowed on-axis only 40% of the time. The Great Smoky Mountains helped create down-valley pressure-driven winds, downslope mountain breezes, and divergent air flow. The Cumberland Mountains and Plateau were associated with wind speed reductions in the Central Great Valley, Emory Gap Flow, weak thermally-driven winds, and northwesterly down sloping. Ridge-and-valley terrain enhanced wind direction reversals, pressure-driven winds, as well as locally and regionally produced thermally-driven flow.