Convective Boundary-Layer Entrainment: Short Review and Progress using Doppler Lidar

The entrainment of air from the free atmosphere into the convective boundary layer is reviewed and further investigated using observations from a 2 μm Doppler lidar. It is possible to observe different individual processes entraining air into the turbulent layer, which develop with varying stability of the free atmosphere. These different processes are attended by different entrainment-zone thicknesses and entrainment velocities. Four classes of entrainment parametrizations, which describe relationships between the fundamental parameters of the process, are examined. Existing relationships between entrainment-zone thickness and entrainment velocity are basically confirmed using as scaling parameters boundary-layer height and convective velocity. An increase in the correlation coefficient between stability parameters based on the stratification of the free atmosphere and entrainment velocity (and entrainment-zone thickness respectively) up to 200% was possible using more suitable length and velocity scales.     

Optical properties of cirrus transition zones over China detected by CALIOP

A transition zone near cirrus lateral boundaries can be detected by CALIOP (cloud–aerosol lidar with orthogonal polarization). In the present study, for such transition zones over China, a number of optical properties, such as the backscatter coefficient and depolarization ratio, showed transitional characteristics between cirrus and clear sky. The stepped horizontal profile showed sharp changes in particle number and morphology between cirrus clouds and clear sky. The color ratio, however, was unable to show cirrus transition features because of the low signal-to-noise ratio. Typical ice particles presented a color ratio of 0.55–1.25 and a depolarization ratio of greater than 0.12, which were significantly higher than those of clear sky. Therefore, optical properties in transition took the form of stepwise horizontal profiles. The proportion of typical-featured particles also demonstrated a stepped horizontal profile similar to the optical characteristics, but the relationship between the proportion and the optical characteristics was not uniform in the cirrus clouds, transition zone, and clear sky. Therefore, the optical changes in the transition zone were caused by not only the change in particle concentration, but also the change in the particles themselves. The probability density distribution of the transition-zone widths showed a positive skewness distribution, and transition zones with widths of 3–5 km occurred most frequently. Overall, transition-zone width decreased with increasing temperature and increased with increasing vertical and horizontal wind speeds. This trend demonstrated independence with the direction of the vertical and horizontal winds. These observations implied that the transitional features were caused by material exchange, such as entrainment and turbulent transport, near the cirrus lateral boundaries, and by the phase transformation of particles, such as sublimation.     

由非季风区向季风区过渡过程中大气边界层结构的变化分析

利用中国西北中部具有代表性的非季风区、夏季风影响过渡区和季风区的7个高空站的2013年夏季晴天07时、13时、19时（北京时）的大气边界层资料,通过分析大气边界层位温、比湿、风速的垂直结构,发现大气边界层结构及厚度在不同区域的分布特征:稳定边界层厚度、残余层顶高度和对流边界层厚度从非季风区、夏季风影响过渡区至季风区出现阶梯性大幅降低,从非季风区至夏季风影响过渡区,以及从夏季风影响过渡区至季风区,对流边界层厚度降幅依次为25.6%和81.8%,稳定边界层厚度降幅依次为58.3%和41.8%;在稳定边界层条件下,可观察到低空急流的存在,非季风区低空急流出现高度明显高于夏季风影响过渡区和季风区,且非季风区的低空急流风速也明显大于夏季风影响过渡区和季风区。通过分析与大气边界层发展最为密切的陆面热力因素在不同气候区的分布,净辐射值、日地-气温差最大值以及感热通量值在非季风区大于夏季风影响过渡区和季风区,从陆面热力过程为非季风区大气边界层厚度大于夏季风影响过渡区和季风区提供了理论依据。     

Flux Footprints in the Convective Boundary Layer: Large-Eddy Simulation and Lagrangian Stochastic Modelling

We investigated the flux footprints of receptors at different heights in the convective boundary layer (CBL). The footprints were derived using a forward Lagrangian stochastic (LS) method coupled with the turbulent fields from a large-eddy simulation model. Crosswind-integrated flux footprints shown as a function of upstream distances and sensor heights in the CBL were derived and compared using two LS particle simulation methods: an instantaneous area release and a crosswind linear continuous release. We found that for almost all sensor heights in the CBL, a major positive flux footprint zone was located close to the sensor upstream, while a weak negative footprint zone was located further upstream, with the transition band in non-dimensional upwind distances −X between approximately 1.5 and 2.0. Two-dimensional (2D) flux footprints for a point sensor were also simulated. For a sensor height of 0.158 z _i, where z _i is the CBL depth, we found that a major positive flux footprint zone followed a weak negative zone in the upstream direction. Two even weaker positive zones were also present on either side of the footprint axis, where the latter was rotated slightly from the geostrophic wind direction. Using CBL scaling, the 2D footprint result was normalized to show the source areas and was applied to real parameters obtained using aircraft-based measurements. With a mean wind speed in the CBL of U = 5.1 m s⁻¹, convective velocity of w _* = 1.37 m s⁻¹, CBL depth of z _i = 1,000 m, and flight track height of 159 m above the surface, the total flux footprint contribution zone was estimated to range from about 0.1 to 4.5 km upstream, in the case where the wind was perpendicular to the flight track. When the wind was parallel to the flight track, the total footprint contribution zone covered approximately 0.5 km on one side and 0.8 km on the other side of the flight track.     

Observations of temperature microstructure in the atmosphere

In order to provide data of atmospheric temperature microstructure for the investigation of light prop-agation we measured fluctuations of atmospheric temperature below the height of 300 m with a platinum wire thermometer in Tianjin in May and September, 1980. The results measured in daytime revealed some properties of the temperature structure parameter and spectrum. It has been confirmed that there is a max-imum in the profile of the structure parameter produced probably by the entrainment in the interfacial layer at the top of convective boundary layer. The average of C2t in the interfacial layer and its Wyngaard calculating method are discussed, and the thickness of the interfacial layer is obtained.It is shown by spectrum analysis that a wide inertial subrange exists in the convective boundary layer and the strong turbulent zone in the free atmosphere. The spectral law with the power of -2.5 was measured within the upper half of boundary layer over the sea in vicinity of Tanggu.     

Strong Updraft at a Sea-Breeze Front and Associated Vertical Transport of Near-Surface Dense Aerosol Observed by Doppler Lidar and Ceilometer

To study the wind field within the atmospheric boundary layer over the Tokyo metropolitan area, Doppler lidar observations were made 45 km north of Sagami Bay and 30 km west of Tokyo Bay, from 14 May to 15 June 2008. Doppler lidar on 27 May 2008 observed the vertical and horizontal wind structure of a well-developed sea-breeze front (SBF) penetrating from Sagami Bay. At the SBF, a strong updraft (maximum w approximately equal to 5 m s⁻¹) was formed with a horizontal scale of about 500 m and vertical scale of 2 km. The spatial relationship between the strong updraft over the nose of the SBF and prefrontal thermal suggests that the strong updraft was triggered by interaction between the SBF and the thermal. After the updraft commenced, a collocated ceilometer observed an intense aerosol backscatter up to 2 km above ground level. The observational results suggest that the near-surface denser aerosols trapped in the head region of the SBF escaped from the nose of the SBF and were then vertically transported up to the mixing height by the strong updraft at the SBF. This implies that these phenomena occurred not continuously but intermittently. The interaction situations between the SBF and prefrontal thermal can affect the wind structure at the SBF and the regional air quality.     

On the analytical solution for two-dimensional convective plume and analytical modeling of the entrainment zone thickness

Analytical solution for two-dimensional thermal plume updraft velocity is obtained under the assumption of a uniform temperature excess inside the plume. In this way, the thermal plume motion is modeled in both mixed layer and entrainment zone. Also, a semi-analytical solution is obtained using an empirical model for the plume temperature excess in the mixed layer. In addition, an analytical model for entrainment zone thickness is obtained by computing the overshoot distance of the modeled plumes, and a semi-analytical model by using the empirical model for plume temperature. By using a nonlinear profile for the lapse rate in the surface layer based on the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory, our model predicts that the characteristics of the surface layer plays an important role in the structure of the entrainment zone. Finally, our solutions for plume velocity allow us to consider the effect of the lateral entrainment on the plume excess temperature and velocity in the convective boundary layer. It is shown that the lateral entrainment has an important role on the plume dynamics and the solutions in the zero entrainment limit offer large overestimated values for the plume velocity, which also result in overestimated values of the entrainment zone thickness.     

Diurnal and Seasonal Trends in Convective Mixed-Layer Heights Estimated from Two Years of Continuous Ceilometer Observations in Vancouver,BC

Twenty-six months of continuous ceilometer data are used to estimate the convective mixed-layer height for 710 days by identifying backscatter gradients associated with the entrainment zone. To accomplish this, a semi-automatic procedure is developed that removes all non-applicable data before applying a mixed-layer height algorithm to the backscatter profiles. Two different algorithms for estimating the mixed-layer height are assessed: the minimum-gradient method and the ideal-profile method. The latter of these two algorithms is found to be more robust. Comparisons of mixed-layer height values estimated from the ceilometer agree with previous observations with slightly higher estimates in the mornings and evenings. For clear days with no cumulus cloud formation, the seasonal cycle in mixed-layer heights peaks in late June to early July. Daily maximum values are suppressed by the site’s coastal location, remaining below 800 m for all but a few days. The mean daily maximum mixed-layer height increases by 384 m for days with boundary-layer clouds. The mean summer diurnal trend is found not to differ greatly from that in spring on clear days, while days with boundary-layer clouds have higher spring values than in summer. Net surface heat flux and synoptic stability likely have the largest influence on the mixed-layer heights. Additionally, large intra-monthly variability suggests a strong influence from regional dynamics.     

Temperature stratification of the atmospheric boundary layer over the Deccan Plateau,India, during the summer monsoon

The vertical and horizontal temperature structure of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) were studied using aircraft observations made in the lowest 2.4 km above ground level during the summer monsoon.The vertical temperature structure of the ABL in the region may be classified into the following four categories.Category The ABL consisted of two layers of thickness 700–900 m separated by a thin transition layer. The lapse rates in the former two layers were dry adiabatic.Category The lowest layer of the ABL of thickness 400–600 m was adiabatically stratified and the overlying layer was stable with gradients of potential temperature 4–5°C km^–1. The stable layer contained a thin adiabatic stratified layer of 200–300 m thickness at a height of 1.5 km.Category The lowest 200–400 m layer of the ABL was adiabatically stratified and the overlying layer was stable with potential temperature gradients of 5–6 °C km¹.Category The ABL was mainly stable with potential temperature gradients of 6 °C km^–1 or greater. Occasionally thin layers with adiabatic stratification were found embedded in the ABL.The temperature distribution of the horizontal temperature at 900 m was mainly normal. The high-frequency portion of the spectra lying between 0.05 and 0.16 Hz (corresponding to wave length 1 km to 300 m) oscillated around the –\2/3 power law line. The spectral curve showed a significant peak at 0.011 Hz having a wave-length of 5 km.Department of Geoscience, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27650, U.S.A.     

Effect of the Entrainment Flux Ratio on the Relationship between Entrainment Rate and Convective Richardson Number

The parameterization of the dimensionless entrainment rate (w _e /w _*) versus the convective Richardson number (Ri _δθ ) is discussed in the framework of a first-order jump model (FOM). A theoretical estimation for the proportionality coefficient in this parameterization, namely, the total entrainment flux ratio, is derived. This states that the total entrainment flux ratio in FOM can be estimated as the ratio of the entrainment zone thickness to the mixed-layer depth, a relationship that is supported by earlier tank experiments, and suggesting that the total entrainment flux ratio should be treated as a variable. Analyses show that the variability of the total entrainment flux ratio is actually the effect of stratification in the free atmosphere on the entrainment process, which should be taken into account in the parameterization. Further examination of data from tank experiments and large-eddy simulations demonstrate that the different power laws for w _e /w _* versus Ri _δθ can be interpreted as the variability of the total entrainment flux ratio. These results indicate that the dimensionless entrainment rate depends not only on the convective Richardson number but also upon the total entrainment flux ratio.     

Entrainment Processes in the Convective Boundary Layer with Varying Wind Shear

Large-eddy simulations (LES) are performed to investigate the entrainment andthe structure of the inversion layer of the convective boundary layer (CBL) withvarying wind shears. Three CBLs are generated with the constant surface kinematicheat flux of 0.05 K m s^-1 and varying geostrophic wind speeds from 5 to 15m s^-1. Heat flux profiles show that the maximum entrainment heat flux as afraction of the surface heat flux increases from 0.13 to 0.30 in magnitude withincreasing wind shear. The thickness of the entrainment layer, relative to the depthof the well-mixed layer, increases substantially from 0.36 to 0.73 with increasingwind shear. The identification of vortices and extensive flow visualizations nearthe entrainment layer show that concentrated vortices perpendicular to the meanboundary-layer wind direction are identified in the capping inversion layer for thecase of strong wind shear. These vortices are found to develop along the mean winddirections over strong updrafts, which are generated by convective rolls and to appearas large-scale wavy motions similar to billows generated by the Kelvin–Helmholtzinstability. Quadrant analysis of the heat flux shows that in the case of strong windshear, large fluctuations of temperature and vertical velocity generated by largeamplitude wavy motions result in greater heat flux at each quadrant than that inthe weak wind shear case.     

Observations and Large-Eddy Simulations of Entrainment in the Sheared Sahelian Boundary Layer

At the top of the planetary boundary layer, the entrainment of air, which incorporates dry and warm air from the free troposphere into the boundary layer, is a key process for exchanges with the free troposphere since it controls the growth of the boundary layer. Here, we focus on the semi-arid boundary layer where the entrainment process is analyzed using aircraft observations collected during the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis experiment and large-eddy simulations. The role of the entrainment is specifically enhanced in this region where very large gradients at the planetary boundary-layer top can be found due to the presence of the moist, cold monsoon flow on which the dry, warm Harmattan flow is superimposed. A first large-eddy simulation is designed based on aircraft observations of 5 June 2006 during the transition period between dry conditions and the active monsoon phase. The simulation reproduces the boundary-layer development and dynamics observed on this day. From this specific case, sensitivity tests are carried out to cover a range of conditions observed during seven other flights made in the same transition period in order to describe the entrainment processes in detail. The combination of large-eddy simulations and observations allows us to test the parametrization of entrainment in a mixed-layer model with zero-order and first-order approximations for the entrainment zone. The latter representation of the entrainment zone gives a better fit with the conditions encountered in the Sahelian boundary layer during the transition period because large entrainment thicknesses are observed. The sensitivity study also provides an opportunity to highlight the contribution of shear stress and scalar jumps at the top of the boundary layer in the entrainment process, and to test a relevant parametrization published in the recent literature for a mixed-layer model.     

A numerical study of daily transitions in the convective boundary layer

We examine daily (morning–afternoon) transitions in the atmospheric boundary layer based on large-eddy simulations. Under consideration are the effects of the stratification at the top of the mixed layer and of the wind shear. The results describe the transitory behaviour of temperature and wind velocity, their second moments, the boundary-layer height Z _m (defined by the maximum of the potential temperature gradient) and its standard deviation σ _m , the mixed-layer height z _i (defined by the minimum of the potential temperature flux), entrainment velocity W _e, and the entrainment flux H _i . The entrainment flux and the entrainment velocity are found to lag slightly in time with respect to the surface temperature flux. The simulations imply that the atmospheric values of velocity variances, measured at various instants during the daytime, and normalized in terms of the actual convective scale w_*, are not expected to collapse to a single curve, but to produce a significant scatter of observational points. The measured values of the temperature variance, normalized in terms of the actual convective scale Θ_*, are expected to form a single curve in the mixed layer, and to exhibit a considerable scatter in the interfacial layer.     

An Evaluation of Boundary-Layer Depth,Inversion and Entrainment Parameters by Large-Eddy Simulation

Studies of entrainment across the top of the boundary layer rely to a great extent on identification of the boundary-layer top, inversion properties, entrainment-zone depth, and the temporal changes in all of these. A variety of definitions and techniques have been used to provide automated and objective estimates; however, direct comparisons between studies is made difficult by the lack of consistency in techniques. Here we compare boundary-layer depth, entrainment-zone thickness, and entrainment rate derived from several commonly used techniques applied to a common set of large-eddy simulations of the idealized, dry, convective boundary layer. We focus in particular on those techniques applicable to lidar backscatter measurements of boundary-layer structure. We find significant differences in all the quantities of interest, and further that the behaviour as functions of common scaling parameters, such as convective Richardson number, also differ, sometimes dramatically. The discretization of the possible values of some quantities imposed by the vertical grid is found to affect some of the results even when changes to model resolution does not affect the entrainment rate or scaling behaviour. This is a particular problem where entrainment parameters are derived from a single mean profile (e.g. the buoyancy-flux profile), but not where they are derived from the statistical properties of large numbers of individual profiles (e.g. the probability distribution of the local boundary-layer top at each model grid point).     

大气边界层的室内模拟研究--夹卷层温度场结构分析

利用室内水槽模拟大气对流边界层,并用多探头测量和光学方法测量分析夹卷层的夹卷过程和温度场结构.测量结果表明,夹卷层的温度场不同于各向同性湍流场,主要原因是夹卷层中含有一些大尺度的相干涡旋.     

A lidar study of the atmospheric entrainment zone and mixed layer over Hong Kong

In this paper we present the lidar study of the atmospheric boundary layer using the City University of Hong Kong lidar system. Three cases of determination of the entrainment zone thickness and the mixed layer depth in the atmospheric boundary layer over Hong Kong were selected for detailed study. The data collected have been analysed using the visual inspection method and the Steyn et al. [J. Atmos. Ocean. Technol. 16 (1999) 953] detection method. During the cold front passage, the mixed layer depth stayed at the level almost constant over the transition period, and the entrainment zone was thickening at a steady entrainment rate.     

Water vapour flux profiles in the convective boundary layer

Summary Water vapour flux profiles in the atmospheric boundary layer have been derived from measurements of water vapour density fluctuations by a ground-based Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) and of vertical wind fluctuations by a ground-based Doppler lidar. The data were collected during the field experiment LITFASS-2003 in May/June 2003 in the area of Lindenberg, Germany. The eddy-correlation method was applied, and error estimates of ±50 W/m² for latent heat flux were found. Since the sampling error dominates the overall measurement accuracy, time intervals between 60 and 120 min were required for a reliable flux calculation, depending on wind speed. Rather large errors may occur with low wind speed because the diurnal cycle restricts the useful interval length. In the lower height range, these measurements are compared with DIAL/radar-RASS fluxes. The agreement is good when comparing covariance and error values. The lidar flux profiles are well complemented by tower measurements at 50 and 90 m above ground and by area-averaged near surface fluxes from a network of micrometeorological stations. Water vapour flux profiles in the convective boundary layer exhibit different structures mainly depending on the magnitude of the entrainment flux. In situations with dry air above the boundary layer a positive entrainment flux is observed which can even exceed the surface flux. Flux profiles which linearly increase from the surface to the top of the boundary layer are observed as well as profiles which decrease in the lower part and increase in the upper part of the boundary layer. In situations with humid air above the boundary layer the entrainment flux is about zero in the upper part of the boundary layer and the profiles in most cases show a linear decrease.     

An Alternative Eddy-Viscosity Model for the Horizontally Uniform Atmospheric Boundary Layer

This paper explores the utility of specifying the eddy viscosity for the horizontally uniform boundary layer as the product of the variance of vertical velocity and an empirical time scale τ _w , as opposed to the more usual formulation where k is the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), λ _k is a length scale and α is a dimensionless coefficient. Simulations were compared with the observations on Day 33 of the Wangara experiment, and with a plausible specification of τ _w (or λ _k ) each model simulated convective boundary-layer development reasonably well, although the closure produced a more realistic width for the entrainment layer. Under the light winds of Day 33, and with the onset of evening cooling, an excessively shallow and strongly-stratified nocturnal inversion developed, and limited its own further deepening. Boundary-layer models that neglect radiative heat transport and parametrize convective transport by eddy viscosity closure are prone to this runaway (unstable) feedback when forced by a negative (i.e. downward) surface flux of sensible heat.     

Bivariate conditional sampling of buoyancy flux during an intense cold-air outbreak

Buoyancy fluxes in the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) for the cloud street regime, observed during the Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment (GALE), have been analyzed using the technique of joint frequency distribution. For the lower half of the MABL, the results suggest that the buoyancy flux is mainly generated by the rising thermals and the sinking compensating ambient air, and is mainly consumed by the entrainment and detrainment of thermals, penetrative convection, and the entrainment from the MABL top.The results are compared to those from previous studies of mesoscale cellular convection (Air-Mass Transformation Experiment, AMTEX), the dry convective boundary layer, and the trade-wind MABL. For the lower MABL, the quadrant buoyancy fluxes, fractional coverages, and flux intensities are in good agreement with those of mesoscale cellular convection (AMTEX) and the dry convective boundary layer. The results suggest that, if the buoyancy flux is primarily driven by the temperature flux, the physical processes for generating buoyancy flux mentioned above are about the same for the lower boundary layers over land and ocean, even with different convective regimes. For the trade-wind MABL, the buoyancy flux is mainly driven by the moisture flux; the quadrant flux intensities are stronger than those of the other three studies except for the buoyant updrafts (thermals). These results suggest that the entrainment and detrainment of thermals are more effective in the trade-wind MABL than in the boundary layers driven by the temperature flux.Scale analysis of the buoyancy flux is in good agreement with that of AMTEX. For the lower half of the MABL, the buoyancy flux is mainly generated by the intermediate scale (200 m to 2 km), which includes the dominant convective thermals in the surface layer and the mixed layer. The scale smaller than 200 m is important only in the surface layer. The scale larger than 2 km, which includes the roll vortices, increases its significance upward. While most of the positive and negative fluxes are associated with the updrafts for the intermediate scale, the downdrafts are as important as updrafts for the larger scale.ST Systems Corporation, Lanham, MD, 20706, U.S.A.