A Similarity Theory for Saltation and Application to Aeolian Mass Flux

A similarity theory for saltation is presented. To derive the theory, a saltation model is developed and applied to simulating particle motion in turbulent flows. The numerical results are then fitted to simple universal expressions, or similarity functions. This approach allows the determination of saltation mass flux and other quantities. While the theory can be general, we focus on studying the saltation mass flux profile q(z). It is shown that q(z) is determined by friction velocity, aerodynamic roughness length and soil particle size distribution. There are two limiting situations, i.e., the saltation of large particles in weak turbulence and that of small particles in strong turbulence, for these two cases, q(z) is respectively exponential and Gaussian. Modified saltation has an intermediate saltation mass flux profile. For multi-sized particles, q(z) is a weighted superposition of many different profiles. The theory is compared with wind-tunnel observations, and uncertainties of the theory are discussed.     

Heterogeneous Saltation: Theory, Observation and Comparison

In the theory of saltation, under development since the 1940s, it is often assumed that saltation is homogeneous, i.e., saltating particles are uniform in size and follow identical trajectories. This assumption is a limitation to the development of saltation theory. In this paper, as in some other studies made since the 1980s, we are concerned with the saltation of multi-sized particles in turbulent flows, a process that we refer to as heterogeneous saltation. The theory deals with several questions, including the variation of particle size distribution with height, the entrainment rates of particles in different size ranges, and the associated profiles of saltation flux, particle momentum flux and particle concentration. It is hypothesised that saltation is dynamically similar and ‘universal’ similarity functions can be established. The similarity function for saltation flux is presented. Field observations are carried out at the southern fringe of the Takla Makan Desert in April 2002. Measurements of streamwise saltation flux of 32 particle size groups are made using a sand particle counter, together with measurements of wind speed and other atmospheric variables. These data are used to validate the saltation theory, by examining whether the observed saltation flux and particle size distribution can be reproduced. It is shown that the theory is promising in predicting these quantities.     

风沙流中风速廓线的数值模拟与实验验证

如何描述风沙流中被风沙运动改变了的风速廓线是风沙相互作用研究中的关键问题之一.该文中将跃移风沙流视为一种颗粒拟流体,将跃移颗粒对气流产生的阻力用颗粒流的阻力系数来表达,建立了描写两场相互作用的数学模型.颗粒流的阻力系数采用了前人在液态流化床研究中得出的阻力系数表达形式,通过引入一个修正系数,使其适用于风沙流(气-固两相流).将风沙边界层划分为跃移颗粒所产生的阻力不可忽略的内边界层和跃移颗粒阻力可以忽略但受内边界层影响的外边界层,分别建立了内边界层和外边界层的风速廓线表达式.应用所建立的数学模型,根据由风洞实验测定的跃移风沙流的浓度分布和速度分布资料,计算了跃移风沙流中的风速廓线,并与风洞实测结果进行了对比.结果表明,计算风速廓线与实测风速廓线吻合得比较好,在半对数图上均为上凸的曲线,有别于无风沙运动时的直线.跃移边界层外风速分布可较好地用对数函数来描述.对风沙流中风速廓线的进一步分析证实了风沙物理学奠基人Bagnold在其早期观测风沙流中的风速廓线时提出的"结点现象"(Bagnold结),该结点的高度随风速的增大而升高,随颗粒粒径的增大而降低.根据数值模拟和模拟实验,可以认为有风沙运动的动床剪切风速是综合反映风场与跃移层以及地表之间相互作用的物理量.     

CWHF型全自动集沙仪结构设计及应用性能野外验证

集沙仪作为一种风蚀研究装置,可直接和准确的测定风沙流中的输沙量和风沙流结构。为此,我们自行设计了一种全自动、高频风沙流采样器—CWHF全自动集沙仪,并通过与2 m高度风速和Sensit跃移撞击传感器的野外配合观测,对比分析其野外实地的应用性能。CWHF全自动集沙仪整体外形呈“L”状,其最大特点是集沙容器底部安装有高精度单点称重传感器,使其能够实现集沙累积值的实时高频测量及长时间的采样任务。在野外环境中对沙尘暴天气背景下的相关数据进行分析,发现CWHF全自动集沙仪的累积量和输沙通量均与风速和撞击颗粒数间有较高的一致性,其能够很好地捕捉沙物质的输移信息,野外应用效果良好。此外,通过其估算塔中流动沙面2015年5月18日和25日两次沙尘暴天气近地表100 cm高度内,宽度为100 cm的截面上的水平输沙通量分别为101.37 kg和110.83 kg。     

Equilibrium Saltation: Mass Fluxes, Aerodynamic Entrainment, and Dependence on Grain Properties

An examination is given of the way in which the saltation layer isaffected by the characteristics of the particles. Special attentionis given to the potential importance of aerodynamic entrainmentduring steady state saltation, a topic for which the discussion is still unresolved. A new numerical model for saltation in steady stateis presented, which is focused on the computation of the horizontalmass flux. The numerical computations, combined with physical arguments, suggest that aerodynamic entrainment plays a more important role thangenerally assumed so far. A comparison of the model results is made with previous models, and with measurements of snow saltation that have been reported in the literature.     

Using Temperature Fluctuation Measurements to Estimate Meteorological Inputs for Modelling Dispersion During Convective Conditions in Urban Areas

We examine the performance of several methods to estimate meteorological inputs for modelling dispersion in urban areas during convective conditions. Sensible heat flux, surface friction velocity and turbulent velocities are estimated from measurements of mean wind speed and the standard deviation of temperature fluctuations at a single level on a tower at two suburban sites and at one urban site in Riverside, California. These estimates are compared with observations made at these sites during a field study conducted in 2007. The sensible heat flux is overestimated in the urban area, while it is underestimated at a suburban site when temperature fluctuations are used in the free convection formulation to estimate heat flux. The bias in heat flux estimates can be reduced through a correction that depends on stability. It turns out that the bias in heat flux estimates has a minor effect on the prediction of surface friction velocity and turbulent velocities. Estimates of sensible heat flux, surface friction velocity and turbulent velocities are sensitive to estimates of aerodynamic roughness length, and we suggest estimating the aerodynamic roughness length through detailed micrometeorological measurements made during a limited field study. An examination of the impact of the uncertainty in estimating surface micrometeorology on concentrations indicates that, at small distances from a surface release, ground-level concentrations computed using estimates of heat flux and surface friction compare well with the those based on observed values: the bias is small and the 95% confidence interval of the ratio of the two concentrations is 1.7. However, at distances much larger than the Obukhov length, this confidence interval is close to 2.3 because errors in both friction velocity and heat flux affect plume spread. Finally, we show that using measurements of temperature fluctuations in estimating heat flux is an improvement on that based on the surface energy balance, even when net radiation measurements are available.     

Study of Aerodynamic Parameters on Different Underling Surfaces

Aerodynamic parameters including the zero-plane displacement (d), roughness length (20), and friction velocity (u*) on the different underlying surfaces of heavy-grazing site, medium-grazing site, light-grazing site, no-grazing site, dune, inter-dune, grassland, rice paddy site, wheat site, soybean site, and maize site have been computed based on the Monin-Obukhov similarity theory by utilizing the micrometeorologically observed data of dune and vegetation in the semi-arid area at Naiman, Inner Mongolia of China, conducted jointly by the Institute of Desert Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences and the National Institute of Agro-Environmental Sciences of Japan in 1990-1994. And their relationships between wind speed and Richardson number are analyzed. The aerodynamic characteristics of different man-made disturbed grassland ecosystems are also compared. Result shows that the vegetation coverage and the above-ground biomass decrease with the increase in man-made stress of the grassland. The roughness length for different underlying surfaces is closely related to vegetation height, above-ground biomass, and ground surface undulation, and Richardson number Ri is also its influencing factor. The friction velocity varies largely on different underlying surfaces, and it is positively proportional to wind speed and roughness length. The aerodynamic parameters of various times on the same underlying surface are different, too. Above results indicate that grassland and vegetation are of significance in preventing desertification, especially in the arid and semi-arid land ecosystems. And the results of this paper are also important for constructing the land surface physical process as well as regional climate model.     

不同下垫面空气动力学参数的研究

文中利用中国科学院沙漠研究所与日本国家农业环境技术研究所合作于1990—1994年在中国内蒙古自治区奈曼市半干旱地区沙丘和植被区下垫面观测的微气象数据,根据Monin-Obukhov相似性理论,计算了重度干扰草原、中度干扰草原、轻度干扰草原、无干扰草原、沙丘、沙丘内地、草地、稻田、小麦田、大豆田和玉米田11种下垫面的空气动力学参数粗糙度长度z0,零平面位移d,摩擦速度u*,并分析了它们与水平风速u和Richardson数的关系,比较了不同人为干扰草原生态系统条件下的空气动力学特征。结果表明:地表生物量和覆盖率随着人为干扰强度的增加而减少。不同人为干扰下垫面的粗糙长度与生物量和植被高度以及地表起伏程度有着密切关系;Richardson数也是其影响因子。风速、粗糙度都与摩擦速度成正相关,但对于不同下垫面有所不同,从中可以看到草地对沙漠化有一定的防治作用。同一种下垫面不同时期的空气动力学参数也存在差异。这些结果对建立陆面过程和区域气候模式具有重要的意义。     

贺兰山地区沙尘暴沙尘起动和垂直输送物理因子的综合研究

根据 4a来在贺兰山两侧沙漠和沙地测站积累的微气象和沙尘谱观测资料 ,结合有关文献 ,综合分析了沙尘起动和垂直输送的物理机制 ;讨论了强风的动力作用、近地面不稳定层结的热力作用和沙尘物质源特征 ;概述了不同尺度天气系统中上升运动特征 ,沙尘的沉降末速计算、沙漠地表的湍流输送特征和垂直速度资料、沙漠地表的超绝热梯度出现的频率和强度及逆湿现象 ,沙漠和沙地的沙尘粒度、地表性质和沙土含水率对起动风速的影响。     

中性层结下局地平缓地形起沙的次网格参数化研究

局地地形起沙对沙尘模式的预报精度具有重要影响。基于狭管与下滑效应以及气流过山的已有研究成果,研究了中性层结与局地平缓地形条件下风速在这两种效应下次网格参数化问题,然后基于平坦地形的起沙公式、引入局地地形的摩擦速度,得到了相应的次网格起沙公式,最后对狭管效应、下滑效应以及两效应的叠加进行了理想试验。试验表明:(1)对于狭管效应的次网格参数化问题,风从狭管的阔口进(出)、窄口出(进)时,风速、跃移通量与起沙量均增大(减小);(2)下滑效应致使风速、跃移通量与起沙量均增大,且山脚增幅大于山坡;(3)对于两种效应的叠加,当气流从狭管的阔口进、窄口出时,风速、跃移通量和起沙量同时增大,山脚风速大于山坡,大粒径沙粒跃移通量增幅大于小粒径沙粒。反之,窄口进、阔口出时,出入口宽度之比存在一临界值,大于此临界值,风速减小;反之增大。而且,除了在山脚的小粒径沙粒在一定风速条件下跃移通量会增大外,其余情况均减少。最后,提出了本参数化方法与数值模式耦合的分算法与整算法。     

风蚀起沙的影响因子及其变化特征

以敦煌地区的戈壁和绿洲为例,对地表土壤风蚀起沙的临界摩擦速度及其变化特征和风蚀起沙过程中地表土壤的粒子尺度分布及其对垂直尘粒通量的影响进行了分析研究。结果表明,地表土壤风蚀起沙的临界摩擦速度随土壤水分含量和植被覆盖度的增大而增大,随粒子尺度的变化是先减小后增大,在中间某一尺度处有一最小值;土壤的人工利用和管理对临界摩擦速度也有着相当大的影响,风蚀起沙过程中,地表土壤的粒子尺度分布随时间发生变化,瞬时的粒子尺度分布不同于平均的粒子尺度分布,利用前者计算得到的垂直尘粒通量对摩擦速度的变化更敏感,利用后者计算得到的垂直尘粒通量偏大。     

Wave-dependence of friction velocity,roughness length,and drag coefficient over coastal and open water surfaces by using three databases

The parameterization of friction velocity, roughness length, and the drag coefficient over coastal zones and open water surfaces enables us to better understand the physical processes of air-water interaction. In context of measurements from the Humidity Exchange over the Sea Main Experiment (HEXMAX), we recently proposed wave-parameter dependent approaches to sea surface friction velocity and the aerodynamic roughness by using the dimensional analysis method. To extend the application of these approaches to a range of natural surface conditions, the present study is to assess this approach by using both coastal shallow (RASEX) and open water surface measurements (Lake Ontario and Grand Banks ERS-1 SAR) where wind speeds were greater than 6.44 m s^-1. Friction velocities, the surface aerodynamic roughness, and the neutral drag coefficient estimated by these approaches under moderate wind conditions were compared with the measurements mentioned above. Results showed that the coefficients in these approaches for coastal shallow water surface differ from those for open water surfaces, and that the aerodynamic roughness length in terms of wave age or significant wave height should be treated differently for coastal shallow and open water surfaces.     

海气界面动量通量算法的改进

COARE（Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment）算法是国际上较先进的计算海气界面通量的算法。最新的COARE 3.0算法包含TY01方案和O02方案两种考虑真实海浪状态的海面空气动力学粗糙度方案;当有效波高和谱峰周期缺省时,利用Taylor01风浪特征量参数化方案可对它们进行参数化。在此基础上引入自主设计的WHP（Wind-wave significant wave Height and dominant wave Period）风浪特征量参数化方案和三种海面空气动力学粗糙度方案,即SCOR方案、GW03方案、PYP07方案以及更简单的Andreas12、Vickers15摩擦速度算法,利用NDBC（National Data Buoy Center）浮标数据、解放军理工大学风浪流水槽实验数据,针对中高风速条件（10 m/s≤U₁₀≤25 m/s）比较上述方案对摩擦速度的预测效果。结果表明:WHP方案在COARE 3.0算法中的应用效果优于Taylor01方案,且新引入的SCOR、GW03、PYP07海面粗糙度方案对风浪特征量的观测误差敏感性更小、稳定度更高;水槽实测数据的对比结果表明,WHP方案结合SCOR海面粗糙度方案计算的摩擦速度与实测值最接近;引入其他三种实测数据的检验结果表明,原始COARE 3.0算法会低估摩擦速度,而WHP方案结合SCOR海面粗糙度方案能更准确地预测摩擦速度随10 m风速的增长趋势。      

Evaluation of the profile and the resistance method for estimation of surface fluxes of momentum,sensible and latent heat

Summary Hourly lysimetric and micrometeorological data taken over a grass surface at the Meteorological Research Unit, Cardington U.K. have been analysed. A temperature difference and measurements of wind speed at only one height, combined with an independently estimated effective roughness length allowed sensible heat and momentum fluxes determination by the profile method on an hourly basis. The estimates are compared with direct measurements of sensible heat and friction velocity obtained by the eddy correlation method. The sensible and latent heat fluxes are also modelled by the resistance method. Equations based on the Monin—Obukhov similarity theory are used to account for stability effects through various forms of parameterization Aerodynamic and surface resistances, necessary for the Penman—Monteith equation are calculated from routinely measured meteorological data. The profile method for estimation of sensible heat flux and friction velocity is found to work excellently on the discussed daytime experimental data which correspond mainly to near neutral or slightly unstable conditions.Surface latent and sensible heat fluxes can also be described very well by the resistance method. A slightly better estimate of the sensible heat flux is achieved when stability corrections are taken into account. On the contrary Penman-Monteith equation for estimating latent heat flux is insensitive to adjustments for atmospheric stability.The comparison of the various methods leads to the establishment of empirical relationships which correlate various quantities such as soil heat flux, resistances, evapotranspiration etc. to routinely measured meteorological data.With 8 Figures     

The Characteristics and Parameterization of Aerodynamic Roughness Length over Heterogeneous Surfaces

Aerodynamic roughness length (z0m is a key factor in surface flux estimations with remote sensing algorithms and/or land surface models. This paper calculates z0m over several land surfaces, with 3 years of experimental data from Xiaotangshan. The results show that z0m is direction-dependent, mainly due to the heterogeneity of the size and spatial distribution of the roughness elements inside the source area along different wind directions. Furthermore, a heuristic parameterization of the aerodynamic roughness length for heterogeneous surfaces is proposed. Individual z0m over each surface component (patch) is calculated firstly with the characteristic parameters of the roughness elements (vegetation height, leaf area index, etc.), then z0m over the whole experimental field is aggregated, using the footprint weighting method.     

Surface Heterogeneity Effects on Regional-Scale Fluxes in the Stable Boundary Layer: Aerodynamic Roughness Length Transitions

The effects of abrupt streamwise transitions of the aerodynamic roughness length ( $z_\mathrm{o}$ z o ) on the stable atmospheric boundary layer are evaluated using a series of large-eddy simulations based on the first Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment Atmospheric Boundary Layer intercomparison study (GABLS1). Four $z_\mathrm{o}$ z o values spanning three orders of magnitude are used to create all possible binary distributions with each arranged into patches of characteristic length scales equal to roughly one-half, one, and two times the equivalent homogeneous boundary-layer height. The impact of the heterogeneity on mean profiles of wind speed and temperature, on surface fluxes of heat and momentum, and on internal boundary-layer dynamics are considered. It is found that $z_\mathrm{o}$ z o transitions do not significantly alter the functional relationship between the average surface fluxes and the mean profiles of wind speed and potential temperature. Although this suggests that bulk similarity theory is applicable for modelling the stable boundary layer over $z_\mathrm{o}$ z o heterogeneity, effective surface parameters must still be specified. Existing models that solve for effective roughness lengths of momentum and heat are evaluated and compared to values derived from the simulation data. The existing models are unable to accurately reproduce both the values of the effective aerodynamic roughness lengths and their trends as functions of patch length scale and stability. A new model for the effective aerodynamic roughness length is developed to exploit the benefits of the other models tested. It accurately accounts for the effects of the heterogeneity and stratification on the blending height and effective aerodynamic roughness length. The new model provides improved average surface fluxes when used with bulk similarity.     

Bulk Formulation of the Surface Heat Flux

An interpretive literature survey examines different approachesfor applying the bulk aerodynamic formulato predict the surface heat flux. The surface heat flux is often predicted in terms of the surface radiation temperature, which is also used to predict the upward longwave radiation and the heat flux into the soil. In models, the thermal roughness length based on the surface radiation temperature (radiometric roughness length) is often specified to be smaller than the roughness length for momentum for a number of distinct reasons. The definition of the radiometric roughness length depends on the way that the surface temperature is measured, the choice of stability functions and displacement height and inclusion of any additional resistances.Using airborne eddy correlation data collected over eight different sites including bare soil, crops and grassland and several types of forests, the radiometric roughness length is found to vary by orders of magnitude in a manner that is difficult to formulate. Alternatively, we evaluate the approach where the thermal roughness length is equated with the better behaved roughness length for momentum and the corresponding aerodynamic surface temperature is modelled in terms of the surface radiation temperature, solar radiation, and vegetation index. The influence of wind speed and soil moisture on the difference between the aerodynamic and surface radiation temperatures is also examined.     

Aerodynamic roughness of the sea surface at high winds

The role of the surface roughness in the formation of the aerodynamic friction of the water surface at high wind speeds is investigated. The study is based on a wind-over-waves coupling theory. In this theory waves provide the surface friction velocity through the form drag, while the energy input from the wind to waves depends on the friction velocity and the wind speed. The wind-over-waves coupling model is extended to high wind speeds taking into account the effect of sheltering of the short wind waves by the air-flow separation from breaking crests of longer waves. It is suggested that the momentum and energy flux from the wind to short waves locally vanishes if they are trapped into the separation bubble of breaking longer waves. At short fetches, typical for laboratory conditions, and strong winds the steep dominant wind waves break frequently and provide the major part of the total form drag through the air-flow separation from breaking crests, and the effect of short waves on the sea drag is suppressed. In this case the dependence of the drag coefficient on the wind speed is much weaker than would be expected from the standard parameterization of the roughness parameter through the Charnock relation. At long fetches, typical for the field, waves in the spectral peak break rarely and their contribution to the air-flow separation is weak. In this case the surface form drag is determined predominantly by the air-flow separation from breaking of the equilibrium range waves. As found at high wind speeds up to 60 m s⁻¹ the modelled aerodynamic roughness is consistent with the Charnock relation, i.e. there is no saturation of the sea drag. Unlike the aerodynamic roughness, the geometrical surface roughness (height of short waves) could be saturated or even suppressed when the wind speed exceeds 30 m s⁻¹.