A Numerical Study of “Hijikawa-Arashi”: A Thermally Driven Gap Wind Visualized by Nocturnal Fog

A renowned local wind in Japan, “Hijikawa-Arashi,” is a thermally driven nocturnal gap wind accompanied by fog. The wind is visually identified by the fog along the valley of the Hijikawa River between the Ozu basin and the Seto Inland Sea during the early morning in autumn and winter. A fine-resolution numerical model is employed to reproduce the main observed features of Hijikawa-Arashi. A vertical resolution of 10 m or less at the lowest level is required to express the nocturnal radiative cooling of the land that is required for fog formation in the basin, and fine horizontal resolution is necessary to express a realistic valley through which the fog is advected to the sea. Multiple hydraulic jumps accompanied by supercritical flow occur because of the complex topography. Both moisture transport by the sea breeze during the daytime and evaporation from the land surface are important for accumulating moisture to produce the fog.