Atmospheric lee waves

The atmospheric lee wave is a disturbance propagated by buoyancy and arising from an isolated source, usually by flow over ridges and mountains. Part of this review treats two-dimensional solutions, both Boussinesq and non-Boussinesq, linear and nonlinear. These discussions emphasize trapped waves, the downslope windstorm, the drag on the earth and the upward momentum flux, the hydrostatic approximation and its limitations, effects of critical layers, and middle atmospheric wave breaking. Three-dimensional Boussinesq linear and nonlinear solutions are also discussed; shown are the variety of regimes possible, from ship waves to shedding vortices. Photographs of natural phenomena are presented as realizations, together with relevant numerical simulation graphics. The difficulties and achievements of simulation models are also outlined.