Etude de la ventilation de la vallée de la Sarine en Gruyère

Abstract. A case study has been carried out in the Sarine valley in Gruyere (Switzerland) in order to improve the understanding of thermotopographic winds over a complex terrain. Apart from field observations (fixed network, soundings, tracking of constant level balloons), two models have been tested with the aim to apply these models in areas with a similar topography. The physical or laboratory model was able to create realistic mountain or valley winds. The hydrostatic numerical model (MESOCONV) has been used to determine threedimensional wind patterns for two important anticyclonic weather situations (with NE or SW synoptic winds).