This paper shows two case studies to investigate the interaction of the local wind within a valley with the synoptic-scale wind. The direction and velocity of the local wind are obtained from slow response data measured within an east/west section of Prata valley in Nova Roma do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The synoptic direction and velocity wind were observed at 00, 12 and 18 TMG at three meteorological surface stations, situated in the studied valley. The synoptic pattern is evaluated by the NCEP-NCAR reanalysis of meteorological fields. The synoptic analysis and empirical evaluation of local wind are done with the use of others variables in the bottom of the valley, as incident solar radiation and air temperature. The results showed that there is a superposition of the thermal and the channeled flow forcings within the valley during the first hours and part of the morning. However, when the air temperature during the early morning is low, the thermal effect seems to be more pronounced than the synoptic channeled wind effect. The down-valley wind flow is relatively stronger during the early and the late morning due to the superposition of both thermal and channeled effects. On the other hand, these effects cancel each other from 12-13 hour, causing calm winds within the valley.
valley; synoptic-scale wind; local wind
