Numerical simulations of anabatic flow at different slope inclination

Slope winds are thermally-driven atmospheric phenomena occurring over inclined terrains, playing a crucial role in local microclimates, pollutant dispersion, and wildfire propagation. Among these, anabatic (upslope) winds are generated by surface heating, which induces convective motions. While the foundational analytical model was established by Prandtl for laminar flows, real-world occurrences are inherently turbulent, necessitating advanced numerical tools for their accurate description. This study employs Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) to investigate the turbulent structure of anabatic flows developing over an infinite, uniformly heated slope. The primary objective is to elucidate how the slope inclination angle influences the flow dynamics and transport mechanisms. The numerical simulations were conducted using a modified version of the buoyantBoussinesqPimpleFoam solver in OpenFOAM 6, incorporating a rotated coordinate system and specific adjustments to handle pressure boundary conditions on an infinite domain. Three different slope angles were examined: 15°, 30°, and 45°.