ATMOSPHERIC LEE WAVES

The atmospheric lee wave is a disturbance propagated by buoyancy and a rising from an isolated source, usually by flow over ridges and mounta ins. Part of this review treats two-dimensional solutions, both Boussi nesq and non-Boussinesq, linear and nonlinear. These discussions empha size trapped waves, the downslope windstorm, the drag on the earth and the upward momentum flux, the hydrostatic approximation and its limit ations, effects of critical layers, and middle atmospheric wave breaki ng. Three-dimensional Boussinesq linear and nonlinear solutions are al so discussed; shown are the variety of regimes possible, from ship wav es to shedding vortices. Photographs of natural phenomena are presente d as realizations, together with relevant numerical simulation graphic s. The difficulties and achievements of simulation models are also out lined.