Observation of a Self-Limiting,Shear-Induced Turbulent Inversion Layer Above Marine Stratocumulus

High-resolution measurements of thermodynamic, microphysical, and turbulence properties inside a turbulent inversion layer above a marine stratocumulus cloud layer are presented. The measurements are performed with the helicopter-towed measurement payload Airborne Cloud Turbulence Observation System (ACTOS), which allows for sampling with low true air speeds and steep profiles through cloud top. Vertical profiles show that the turbulent inversion layer consists of clear air above the cloud top, with nearly linear profiles of potential temperature, horizontal wind speed, absolute humidity, and concentration of interstitial aerosol. The layer is turbulent, with an energy dissipation rate nearly the same as that in the lower cloud, suggesting that the two are actively coupled, but with significant anisotropic turbulence at the large scales within the turbulent inversion layer. The turbulent inversion layer is traversed six times and the layer thickness is observed to vary between 37 and 85 m, whereas the potential temperature and horizontal wind speed differences at the top and bottom of the layer remain essentially constant. The Richardson number therefore increases with increasing layer thickness, from approximately 0.2 to 0.7, suggesting that the layer develops to the point where shear production of turbulence is sufficiently weak to be balanced by buoyancy suppression. This picture is consistent with prior numerical simulations of the evolution of turbulence in localized stratified shear layers. It is observed that the large eddy scale is suppressed by buoyancy and is on the order of the Ozmidov scale, much less than the thickness of the turbulent inversion layer, such that direct mixing between the cloud top and the free troposphere is inhibited, and the entrainment velocity tends to decrease with increasing turbulent inversion-layer thickness. Qualitatively, the turbulent inversion layer likely grows through nibbling rather than engulfment.     

冬奥崇礼赛区一次冷湖过程形成及消散的数值模拟研究

本文利用中尺度数值预报模式(WRF)并采用谱逼近方法,对2021年冬奥测试赛期间的一次冷湖过程进行模拟研究,探究了冷湖发展前后风温场的垂直变化规律,揭示了冷湖形成及消亡的具体原因。研究结果表明,静稳的天气形势是冷湖过程维持及发展的大背景条件。冷湖发展期间,逆温层由上至下迅速建立,谷底出现偏东—东南向的冷径流。受重力下坡风的影响,冷空气不断向谷底堆积,冷湖深度增加。日出后,越山的系统风重新建立,逆温层从底部消蚀,冷湖结构破坏。夜间的强辐射冷却作用是冷湖形成的主要原因之一。辐射冷却强度的差异会引起冷湖降温幅度的差异,后半夜辐射冷却作用的突然加强为冷湖中后期的维持及发展创造有利条件。通过分析冷湖发生前后位温廓线、摩擦速度及边界层高度随时间的演变,均可印证湍流活动的发展是逆温消散、冷湖结构破坏的重要影响因素。     

南京冬季平流雾的生消机制及边界层结构观测分析

利用系留飞艇边界层要素探测系统等设备,对2006年12月24q7日发生在南京地区的雾日边界层结构进行了综合探测,深入研究了这次平流雾的生消机制及边界层结构。结果表明：此次雾属于比较典型的平流雾,生成和维持主要决定于暖湿气流和系统性下沉运动,消散主要是干冷空气南下造成的;雾项下降阶段出现了双层结构,中层逆温是逆温主层,属于下沉逆温及平流逆温,主逆温层强中心始终位于雾顶附近或处于雾顶之下;风速随高度呈现多峰分布,中层急流与强度较弱的中上层和上层急流合并后,又与下层急流出现了一强一弱的波动;在风速较小时,风场趋于均匀化;雾消散时,低层风场趋于线性化;雾主要的水汽来源是暖湿气流;比湿场与风场有较好的时空分布对应性,主逆温层强中心也是逆湿强中心,风场与温度场共同主导了比湿场的时空分布。     

2008年初我国南方冻雨雪天气环流及垂直结构分析

利用美国国家环境预报中心NCEP 1971\_2000年1月及2008年1月的再分析值高度、 温度和风的气候平均场, 以及国家气象中心要素库中的2008年1月8日～2月6日08：00～08：00 24 h降水和冻雨实况等实测资料, 对2008年初我国南方的持续冰冻过程的异常成因做了分析。结果表明, 在稳定的高空环流形势下, 来自极地的冷空气和来自南支槽前暖湿气流及东海、 南海的偏东气流交绥于我国大陆东南部, 加之稳定的滇黔静止锋、 华南静止锋和近地面冷高压前东北冷平流, 多因素综合导致了这场罕见持续冰冻天气; 冻雨出现在冷暖空气交界的锋区附近, 偏在能量锋区低值一侧。对流层中低层为西南暖湿气流, 强逆温层是冻雨天气突出的垂直特征, 贵州西部以没有融化层的“单层结构”为主, 贵州中部“单层结构”和“二层结构”均存在; 湖南省西部冻雨垂直结构表现为“单层结构”和“二层结构”, 以“二层结构”居多, 东南部郴州的冻雨垂直结构主要为“三层结构”和“二层结构”。逆温层之下湿度很大, 逆温层之上湿度迅速减小, 干\, 暖空气有利于稳定层结, 抑制低层湿空气向上扩散, 对南方阴雨天气和冻雨天气的维持起了不可忽视的作用。     

南岭山地一次锋面浓雾过程的边界层结构分析

利用2001年3月上旬在南岭山地进行的综合野外观测资料,分析了有雾和无雾时的天气型和边界层风、温、湿结构特征。分析表明,冷空气影响期间出现的地面雾是低空湿度饱和区向地面扩展,云底接地形成的雾,锋面雾消散过程实质上为雾层底逐渐抬升离开地面的过程。边界层结构受天气系统的影响,锋面逆温结构对雾的维持有重要作用,单层强逆温结构有利于雾的发展和维持,多层(双层)弱逆温结构容易导致雾消散;出现雾与前期低空南风强劲,高空盛行西南或西南西气流,充分回暖增湿,导致整层空气湿度大有密切关系;浓雾维持期间,出现小到中雨时,雨强峰值时间段都出现能见度短时好转的现象,否则则反之,表明云雾中的微物理过程与能见度有密切关系。     

2010年2月辽宁地区冻雨天气诊断分析

应用常规天气资料,从天气、气候及大气物理量场等方面,对2010年2月下旬发生在辽宁地区历史罕见的冰冻雨雪灾害性天气发生发展的成因、主要特征以及造成严重灾害的主要原因进行诊断分析。结果表明：500 hPa低涡分裂的小槽东移是冻雨天气的环流背景;700 hPa源源不断的水汽输送和低层辐合作用是降水产生的基本条件。地面强冷空气是冻雨天气的触发机制;高层为冷的冰晶层,对流层中低层有温度t>0℃的暖的融化层,近地面1-2 km为气温t<0℃的冷层,同时地面达到 0℃以下,这种复杂的逆温层是冻雨产生的天气条件。高层暖平流是维持中空暖层结构的重要条件之一,对暖层的建立和破坏起较大作用,暖层消失冻雨天气也随之结束。中低空水汽饱和度、地面温度和中低空上升、下沉运动与冻雨的强度有密切关系。     

A Comparative Study and Evaluation of Mixing-Height Estimation Based on Sodar-RASS, Ceilometer Data and Numerical Model Simulations

The unmanned aerial system SUMO (Small Unmanned Meteorological Observer) has been used for the observation of the structure and behaviour of the atmospheric boundary layer above the Advent Valley, Svalbard during a two-week period in early spring 2009. Temperature, humidity and wind profiles measured by the SUMO system have been compared with measurements of a small tethered balloon system that was operated simultaneously. It is shown that both systems complement each other. Above 200?m, the SUMO system outperforms the tethered balloon in terms of flexibility and the ability to penetrate strong inversion layers of the Arctic boundary layer. Below that level, the tethered balloon system provides atmospheric profiles with higher accuracy, mainly due to its ability to operate at very low vertical velocities. For the observational period, a numerical mesoscale model has been run at high resolution and evaluated with SUMO profiles reaching up to a height of 1500?m above the ground. The sensitivity to the choice of atmospheric boundary-layer schemes and horizontal resolution has been investigated. A new scheme especially suited for stable conditions slightly improves the temperature forecast in stable conditions, although all schemes show a warm bias close to the surface and a cold bias above the atmospheric boundary layer. During one cold and cloudless night, the SUMO system could be operated nearly continuously (every 30?C45?minutes). This allowed for a detailed case study addressing the structure and behaviour of the air column within and above Advent Valley and its interaction with the local topography. The SUMO measurements in conjunction with a 10-m meteorological mast enabled the identification of a very stable nocturnal surface layer adjacent to the valley bottom, a stable air column in the valley and a strong inversion layer above the summit height. The results indicate the presence of inertial-gravity waves during the night, a feature not captured by the model.     

A Velocity–Dissipation Lagrangian Stochastic Model for Turbulent Dispersion in Atmospheric Boundary-Layer and Canopy Flows

An extended Lagrangian stochastic dispersion model that includes time variations of the turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate is proposed. The instantaneous dissipation rate is described by a log-normal distribution to account for rare and intense bursts of dissipation occurring over short durations. This behaviour of the instantaneous dissipation rate is consistent with field measurements inside a pine forest and with published dissipation rate measurements in the atmospheric surface layer. The extended model is also shown to satisfy the well-mixed condition even for the highly inhomogeneous case of canopy flow. Application of this model to atmospheric boundary-layer and canopy flows reveals two types of motion that cannot be predicted by conventional dispersion models: a strong sweeping motion of particles towards the ground, and strong intermittent ejections of particles from the surface or canopy layer, which allows these particles to escape low-velocity regions to a high-velocity zone in the free air above. This ejective phenomenon increases the probability of marked fluid particles to reach far regions, creating a heavy tail in the mean concentration far from the scalar source.     

Some Characteristics of the Surface Boundary Layer of a Strong Cold Air Process over Southern China

In southern China,cold air is a common weather process during the winter season;it can cause strong wind,sharp temperature decreases,and even the snow or freezing rain events.However,the features of the atmospheric boundary layer during cold air passage are not clearly understood due to the lack of comprehensive observation data,especially regarding turbulence.In this study,four-layer gradient meteorological observation data and one-layer,10-Hz ultrasonic anemometer-thermometer monitoring data from the northern side of Poyang Lake were employed to study the main features of the surface boundary layer during a strong cold-air passage over southern China.The results show that,with the passage of a cold air front,the wind speed exhibits low-frequency variations and that the wind systematically descends.During the strong wind period,the wind speed increases with height in the surface layer.Regular gust packets are superimposed on the basic strong wind flow.Before the passage of cold air,the wind gusts exhibit a coherent structure.The wind and turbulent momentum fluxes are small,although the gusty wind momentum flux is slightly larger than the turbulent momentum flux.However,during the invasion of cold air,both the gusty wind and turbulent momentum fluxes increase rapidly with wind speed,and the turbulent momentum flux is larger than the gusty wind momentum flux during the strong wind period.After the cold air invasion,this structure almost disappears.     

A numerical study of the influence of an air temperature-inversion layer and a seawater density-jump layer on the structure of interacting boundary layers

The effects of an air-temperature inversion in the atmosphere and a seawater density jump in the ocean on the structure of the atmospheric and oceanic boundary layers are studied by use of a coupled model. The numerical model consists of a closed system of equations for velocities, turbulent kinetic energy, turbulent exchange coefficient, local turbulent length scale, and stratification expressions for both air and sea boundary layers. The effects of the temperature inversion and the density jump are incorporated into the equations of turbulent kinetic energy of the atmosphere and ocean by a parameterization. A series of numerical experiments was conducted to determine the effects of various strengths of the inversion layer and surface heat fluxes in the atmosphere and of the density-jump layer in the ocean on the structure of the interacting boundary layers.The numerical results show that the temperature inversion in the atmosphere and density jump in the ocean have strong influences on turbulent structure [especially on the turbulent exchange coefficient (TEC) and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE)] and on air-sea interaction characteristics. Maxima of TKE and TEC strongly decrease with increasing strength of the inversion layer, and they disappear for strong inversions in the atmosphere. Certain strengths (density differences between the upper and the lower layers) of the density-jump layer in the ocean (₂ 0.1 g/cm³) produce double maxima in TEC-profiles and TKE-profiles in the ocean. The magnitudes of air-sea interaction characteristics such as geostrophic drag coefficient, and surface drift current increase with increasing strength of the density-jump layer in the ocean. The density-jump layer plays the role of a barrier that limits vertical mixing in the ocean. The numerical results agree well with available observed data and accepted quantitive understanding of the influences of a temperature inversion layer and a density-jump layer on the interacting atmospheric and oceanic boundary layers.     

一次黄沙输送过程的数值模拟研究

运用MM4中尺度动力学模式结合沙尘气溶胶传输模式,模拟分析了1992年4月10日发生的一次沙尘暴天气及沙尘气溶胶（黄沙）输送过程。得出蒙古气旋冷锋后的大风是沙尘扬起的主要动力,地形抬升、白天混合层内的湍流扩散和锋区强烈的上升气流将沙尘输送到高层。沙尘气溶胶的水平输送主要通过对流层下层和上层两层向下游输送。低层沙尘随冷锋一起向下游输送,移速较慢;高层沙尘主要通过西风气流迅速输送到下游区域。     

长江中下游一次暴雪冻雨微物理过程模拟研究

根据NECP1°×1°客观再分析资料和常规观测资料,利用中尺度数值模式WRF对2008年1月25—29日长江中下游暴雪冻雨过程进行了数值模拟,结果表明：WRF模式可以很好地模拟出此次强降雪过程高低空环流形势演变特征以及降水带的分布。分析表明,中层西南急流对暖湿空气的输送以及低层冷空气的持续扩散为暴雪和冻雨的发生提供了很好的温度层结条件。云微物理过程特征分析表明,此次暴雪冻雨过程存在多种云系共同降水,中低空600—850 hpa强逆温层尤其是0 ℃层的存在使得雪、冰晶等冰相粒子融化形成过冷却水,是大范围冻雨形成的必要条件,同时也是区分大范围冻雨暴雪形成的重要条件。     

Surface energy balance,parameterizations of boundary-layer heights and the application of resistance laws near an Antarctic Ice Shelf front

A study of the surface energy balance with turbulent fluxes obtained by the Monin-Obukhov similarity theory and a comparison with results for resistance laws are presented for the strong baroclinic conditions in the vicinity of the Filchner/Ronne Ice Shelf front. The data are taken from a field experiment in the Antarctic summer season 1983/84. For the first time in the coastal Antarctic region, this data set comprises synchronous energy balance measurements over the polynya and the ice shelf together with soundings of the boundary layer, yielding vertical profiles of the wind velocity and temperature over the ice shelf, at the ice shelf front and over the polynya.Over the ice shelf, the radiation balance is the largest component of the energy fluxes and is mainly compensated by the subsurface energy flux and the turbulent heat flux in the daily mean. Over the polynya, turbulent fluxes of sensible and latent heat lead to large energy losses of the water surface in the night-time and in situations of very low air temperatures.Different parameterizations for boundary-layer height are compared using tethered sonde and energy balance measurements. With the height of the inversion base over the polynya and the height of the critical bulk Richardson number over the ice shelf, external parameters for the application of resistance laws were determined. The comparison of turbulent surface fluxes obtained by the energy balance measurements and by the resistance laws shows good agreement for the convective conditions over the polynya. For the stably stratified boundary layer over the ice shelf with small amounts of the turbulent heat flux, the deviation is large for the case of a cold air outflow with a superposed inertial oscillation.     

Turbulence structure in temperature inversions and in convection fields as observed by doppler sodar

The structure of turbulence in an inversion layer and in an homogeneous convective field of the planetary boundary layer is described. In the first part of the paper, we validate the sodar estimates of turbulent dissipation, by using measurements with an hot-wire anemometric system in situ. Limitations of an ε measurement technique using structure function calculations are given, taking account of atmospheric properties and acoustic Doppler instrumental effects. By comparison between isopleths of backscattering intensity and of turbulent dissipation rates, we observe that in the early morning, turbulence is advected by mechanical turbulence generated by wind shear. The same mechanism seems to be operating in the case of an inversion layer capping thermal instability, when the convective activity is not too greatly developed. A turbulent kinetic energy budget is examined using aircraft, sodar, and tower measurements. This indicates a constant turbulent dissipation profile through a deep convective layer.     

一次冬季锋面暴风雪天气过程的斜压边界层特征的观测分析

对STORM-FESTIOP17一次冬季锋面暴风雪天气过程的斜压边界层结构演变及特征进行了分析。发现：暖湿空气沿锋面抬升凝结成云，产生降水过程中释放的大量潜热显著增加锋两侧的水平温度差异，产生锋生。与锋生相伴，在锋前产生低空急流和高空急流。当锋生至最强时，锋两侧温差可达20K，锋前低空急流开始减弱，锋后低空急流增强，锋后冷平流开始主导锋两侧的环流系统。该冷平流削弱锋两侧的温度水平梯度，产生锋消作用。对这次锋面斜压对流边界层的湍流特征分析表明：在边界层之上切应力wv明显增大；湍能收支分析表明在边界层之上的风切变产生项很强，即大尺度天气系统有利于斜压对流边界层的发展，边界层内各量充分混合。这次冬季锋面暴风雪天气过程，冷锋前的低空南风急流从墨西哥湾携带来的充足水汽及锋区边界层大气的强斜压性是其产生的关键因子：冷锋过后，大尺度高空急流的作用更有利于对流边界层的充分发展。     

Numerical simulation of vortex roll development during a cold air outbreak

Cold air outbreaks can be identified by the formation of cloud streets downwind from a land-sea boundary, as can be seen in numerous satellite pictures. These cloud streets are caused by horizontal roll vortices which in turn are due to dynamic and convective instability of the planetary boundary layer over sea. The development of these roll vortices is simulated with a numerical model and compared to observations obtained over the Bering Sea. Vertical heat transport is found to be due to turbulent diffusion in the initial stage of a cold air outbreak before organized roll vortices contribute to the heat flux in the higher levels of the boundary layer. The influence of a capping inversion on the dynamic and convective instability is also elucidated.     

Structure of the marine atmospheric boundary layer during two cold air outbreaks of varying intensities: GALE 86

Aircraft, surface, upper air and satellite measurements have been used to observe the evolution and growth of the convective Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer (MABL) offshore of North Carolina in close proximity to the Gulf Stream, during the intense cold air outbreak of 28 January 1986 and the moderate event of 12 February 1986, as part of the Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment (GALE). Air mass modification processes, driven primarily by the ocean-atmosphere exchanges of surface turbulent sensible and latent heat fluxes, caused the overlying air mass to warm and moisten as it advected over the warmer waters of the eastern United States continental shelf. Maximum observed near-surface total heat fluxes were 1045 and 811 W·m^–2 over the core of the Gulf Stream, for 28 January and 12 February 1986, respectively. The observed changes in the overlying air mass occurred almost instantaneously as the ambient flow traversed different underlying SST conditions.The turbulent structure showed a buoyancy-dominated MABL below approximately 0.8z/h. However, shear was also observed to be an important production term above 0.8z/h and below 0.1z/h for the 28 January 1986 event. Dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy was the dominant destruction term in the budgets, but vertical transport of energy was a strong contributor below 0.5z/h, above which this term became a source of turbulent energy. Additionally, the normalized standard deviations of the horizontal velocity components showed a near-equal contribution to the turbulence, while the vertical velocity components displayed the characteristic mid-layer maximum profile observed for a convective, well-mixed boundary layer.     

浙江中部一次大雾过程分析与预报

利用NCEP再分析格点资料、常规观测资料、数值预报产品以及卫星云图对2009年4月6日早晨浙江中部一次大范围大雾天气过程进行诊断分析。结果表明：高空槽后暖脊的大气环流背景有利于地面长波辐射冷却和中层增温,易形成逆温,为大雾生成提供了有利条件,而边界层逆温层或等温层的形成与维持对雾的发展持续具有重要作用;凝结核、低层湍流混合是山区能见度较城镇大的主要原因;交叉温度可用来预示整个潜在雾层的湿度状态,温度与交叉温度差值可作为了解大雾生成、发展、消散过程的一项指标;模式产品能提供雾形成的环境条件;红外云图、可见光云图有助于预测雾的形成、发展、消散过程。     

On the Evolution and Structure of a Radiation Fog Event in Nanjing

An extremely dense radiation fog event during 10-11 December 2007 was studied to understand its macro-micro-physics in relation to dynamic and thermodynamic structures of the boundary layer, as well as its structural evolution in conjunction with the air-surface exchange of heat and water vapor. The findings are as follows. The extreme radiation fog process was divisible into formation, development, mature, and dissipation phases, depending on microstructure and visibility. This fog event was marked by rapid evolution that occurred after sunrise, when enhanced surface evaporation and cold air intrusion led to a three order of magnitude increase in liquid water content (LWC) in just 20 minutes. The maximum droplet diameter (MDD) increased four-fold during the same period. The fog structure was two-layered, with the top of both the surface-layer and upper-layer components characterized by strong temperature and humidity inversions, and low-level jets existed in the boundary layer above each fog layer. Turbulence intensity, turbulent kinetic energy, and friction velocity differed remarkably from phase to phase: these features increased gradually before the fog formation and decreased during the development phase; during the mature and dissipation phases these characteristics increased and then decreased again. In the development and mature stages, the mean kinetic energy of the lower-level winds decreased pronouncedly, both in the horizontal and vertical directions.     

闽西南地区一次高架雷暴中尺度特征分析

利用常规观测资料、ERA5再分析资料、闪电定位仪资料、福建龙岩双偏振多普勒天气雷达资料,分析了2020年春季闽西南地区的一次强对流过程。结果表明,此次过程发生在地面锋线北侧冷区内,属于典型的高架雷暴过程,产生的灾害性天气包括冰雹、短时强降水、高山站雷雨大风。500 hPa冷平流、850 hPa暖湿平流、925 hPa闽西南地区的假相当位温高能舌为高架雷暴的发生发展提供了有利的环境条件。探空显示逆温层深厚且逆温层顶温度高,暖湿气流沿着锋面被强迫抬升,至逆温层之上饱和假相当位温随高度递减,存在显著的条件不稳定,对流得到快速发展。雷达分析表明,本次高架雷暴冰雹回波自低层快速倾斜向上发展,具有发展快、强度强、降雹时间长的特征。其双偏振参数演变特征与基于地面抬升的雷暴基本一致,降雹阶段表现为CC谷、Z_DR接近零、K_DP小于零。降雹前回波单体中存在强Z_DR和K_DP柱,可以作为冰雹预报的参考,提前量达到半小时。