Observation and numerical simulation of dust devils at the Hong Kong International Airport in sea breeze situation

Abstract

Dust devils at Hong Kong International Airport in two consecutive days in the summer of Hong Kong are documented. They are found to be related to the sea breeze convergence lines and are anticyclonic. The background meteorological conditions under which the dust devils occur are documented. The computer simulation of the tiny anticyclonic flow at the sea breeze convergence line is studied. This paper discusses the difficulties in the micro-scale simulation of the sea breeze circulation in an area of complex terrain and the successful reproduction of the sense of rotation of the dust devil flow. It is hoped that the paper could be a useful reference for the studies of dust devils in the literature.