Summary
Regional and local scale windfield and air mass characteristics during two distinct synoptic foehn wind events over southern New Zealand are examined. The Southern Alps were observed to effectively block low level onshore gradient northwesterly airflow and to channel it through both Cook and Foveaux Straits. Blocking of the onshore synoptic northwesterly airstream also resulted in barrier jet formation along the western slopes of the Southern Alps. This feature of the regional windfield has not previously been documented and develops during favourable conditions to a height of between 1500 to 1800 m above sea level. In the immediate lee of the Southern Alps at Lake Tekapo, classic foehn conditions such as warm ambient air temperatures, low relative humidities and gusty winds were monitored throughout both foehn events examined. Differences in the local windfield were however observed, which reflect the importance of local topography on lee side windfield dynamics during foehn events. Spillover of precipitation to the lee of the mountains was monitored in the latter stages of each case study and appeared to be associated with the passage of the cold front over the Southern Alps. Observations made by this investigation have a number of applied and theoretical implications with respect to meso-scale modelling, orographic rainfall distribution and forecasting.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Allan, J. C., 1991: Storm induced surf zone processes and beach profile response at Lake Pukaki, South Island, New Zealand. Unpublished MSc Thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, 212 pp.
Atkinson, B. W., 1981:Mesoscale Atmospheric Circulations. London: Academic Press, 495 pp.
Bowen, A. J., 1981: Engineering aspects of the wind.Weath. and Clim.,1, 14–20.
Brinkmann, W. A. R., 1971: What is a foehn?Weather,26, 230–239.
Chinn, T. J., 1980: Sundry wind records from the Southern Alps. Report No WS163, National Water and Soil Conservation Organisation, Christchurch, New Zealand, 14pp.
Garr, G. E., Fitzharris, B. B., 1991: A climate classification of New Zealand based on numerical techniques.NZ. Geographer,47, 60–71.
Hann, J., 1866: Zur Frage über den Ursprung des Föhns.Zeit. Oest. Gesell. Meteor.,1, 257–263.
Hoinka, K. P., 1985: Observation of airflow over the Alps during a foehn event.Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc.,111, 199–224.
Justice, J. A., 1990: Hydro Resources of New Zealand, Resource Information Report 7, Energy Resources Division, Ministry of Commerce, Wellington, New Zealand, 57 pp.
Kidson, E., 1932: The Canterbury “Northwester”.NZ. J. Sci. Tech.,14, 65–75.
Lamb, P. C., 1972: An Investigation of the Canterbury nor-Wester. Unpublished MA. Thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, 175 pp.
Lamb, P. C., 1975: The Nor'wester's advance across the Canterbury Plains, New Zealand.NZ. J. Sci.,17, 375–379.
Lisle, J. F. de 1969: The climate and weather. In: Knox, G. A. (ed.)The Natural History of Canterbury. Wellington, New Zealand: Reed.
McCracken, I. J., 1980: Mountain climate in the Craigieburn Range, New Zealand. In: Beneke, U., Davies, M. R. (eds)Mountain Environments and Subalpine Tree Growth. Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Forest Service, 41–59.
McGowan, H. A., 1994: Thermal and dynamic influences on alpine dust storms, Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, 268 pp.
McGowan, H. A., Owens, I. F., Sturman, A. P., 1995: Thermal and dynamic characteristics of alpine lake breezes, Lake Tekapo, New Zealand,Bound.-Layer Meteorol. (in press).
McKendry, I. G., Sturman, A. P., Owens, I. F., 1986: A study of interacting multiscale wind systems, Canterbury Plains, New Zealand.Meteorol. Atmos. Phys.,35, 242–252.
Oke, T. R., 1987:Boundary Layer Climates, 2nd edn., London: Routledge, 435 pp.
Orlanski, I., 1975: A rational subdivision of scales for atmospheric processes.Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,56, 527–530.
Ryan, A. P., 1987: The Climate and Weather of Canterbury. Miscellaneous Publication 115 (17), Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Meteorological Service, 66 pp.
Sturman, A. P., 1992: Dynamic and thermal effects of surface airflow associated with southerly changes over the South Island, New Zealand,Meteorol. Atmos. Phys.,47, 229–236.
Wratt, D. S., Ridley, R. N., Sinclair, M. R., Larsen, H., Henderson, R., Austin, A. A., Sturman, A. P., Owens, I. F., Fitzharris, B. B., Ryan, B. F., 1995: The New Zealand Southern Alps experiment. (submitted for publication).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
With 12 Figures
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McGowan, H.A., Sturman, A.P. Regional and local scale characteristics of foehn wind events over the South Island of New Zealand. Meteorl. Atmos. Phys. 58, 151–164 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01027562
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01027562