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Dynamical downscaling of prevailing synoptic-scale winds over the complex terrain of Mariepskop, South Africa
Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2014
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| _version_ | 1867613546404118528 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Rautenbach, C.J. de W. (Cornelis Johannes de Wet) |
| author_browse | Rautenbach, C.J. de W. (Cornelis Johannes de Wet) |
| author_facet | Rautenbach, C.J. de W. (Cornelis Johannes de Wet) |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2014 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria |
| description | Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/41196 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:37:51.914Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publishDateRange | 2014 |
| publishDateSort | 2014 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/41196 Dynamical downscaling of prevailing synoptic-scale winds over the complex terrain of Mariepskop, South Africa Rautenbach, C.J. de W. (Cornelis Johannes de Wet) Pretorius, Ilze Mariepskop (direct translation: “Marieps hill”) Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Prevailing synoptic-scale winds UCTD Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. Mariepskop (direct translation: “Marieps hill”) forms part of the northernmost edge of the Drakensberg Mountain range in the east of South Africa, and is known for its complex topography associated with meso-scale atmospheric circulation, and therefore its numerous climatic zones. As a result the mountain hosts a high degree of biodiversity. The peak of Mariepskop lies at approximately 1900m Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL), which is higher than the surrounding escarpment to the east bordering the Highveld. Its foothills also extend well into the Lowveld at about 700m AMSL. Mariepskop is therefore ideal for studying airflow exchange between the industrialized Highveld and the Lowveld with its diversity of natural resources. It is also ideal for detecting global warming signals on altitudinal gradients extending from the Lowveld to altitudes above the Highveld escarpment. In this study, long-term National Centre for Atmospheric Research / National Centre for Environmental Prediction (NCAR/NCEP) reanalysis wind data at two atmospheric pressure levels (850hPa and 700hPa), as well as reanalysis near-surface temperature data, were obtained for the Mariepskop region for the austral summer (and winter) seasons. The data was used to force a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model (also known as STAR-CCM+) across its lateral boundaries with the dominant synoptic flow in order to generate mesoscale simulation output over the complex terrain of Mariepskop. Wind speed and direction modelled results were then correlated to observations measured by three weather stations on Mariepskop. Modelled wind flow results for the summer simulation were also validated against aerial photographs in order to infer whether the model could accurately capture areas with high rainfall, which are related to denser vegetation. gm2014 Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology unrestricted 2014-08-12T08:51:06Z 2014-08-12T08:51:06Z 2014-04-23 2013 Dissertation Pretorius, I 2013, Dynamical downscaling of prevailing synoptic-scale winds over the complex terrain of Mariepskop, South Africa, MSc dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/41196> E14/4/353/gm http://hdl.handle.net/2263/41196 en © 2014 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | Mariepskop (direct translation: “Marieps hill”) Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Prevailing synoptic-scale winds UCTD Dynamical downscaling of prevailing synoptic-scale winds over the complex terrain of Mariepskop, South Africa |
| title | Dynamical downscaling of prevailing synoptic-scale winds over the complex terrain of Mariepskop, South Africa |
| title_full | Dynamical downscaling of prevailing synoptic-scale winds over the complex terrain of Mariepskop, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Dynamical downscaling of prevailing synoptic-scale winds over the complex terrain of Mariepskop, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dynamical downscaling of prevailing synoptic-scale winds over the complex terrain of Mariepskop, South Africa |
| title_short | Dynamical downscaling of prevailing synoptic-scale winds over the complex terrain of Mariepskop, South Africa |
| title_sort | dynamical downscaling of prevailing synoptic scale winds over the complex terrain of mariepskop south africa |
| topic | Mariepskop (direct translation: “Marieps hill”) Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Prevailing synoptic-scale winds UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/41196 |