A bulk model for the atmospheric planetary boundary layer

The integrated momentum and thermodynamic equations through the planetary boundary layer (PBL) are solved numerically to predict the mean changes of wind and potential temperature from which surface fluxes are computed using bulk transfer coefficients of momentum and heat. The second part of the study involves a formulation and testing of a PBL height model based on the turbulent energy budget equation where turbulent fluxes of wind and heat are considered as the source of energy. The model exhibits capability of predicting the PBL height development for both stable and unstable regimes of observed conditions. Results of the model agree favourably with those of Deardorff's (1974a) and Tennekes' (1973) models in convective conditions.Contribution number 396.     

Lagrangian similarity theory applied to diffusion in the planetary boundary layer

A similarity theory is developed to describe diffusion of a cloud of passive material in a neutral barotropic steady-state boundary layer of the Earth's atmosphere. It is suggested that a characteristic length scale U ^*/f is relevant in the diffusion process when the diffusing cloud mixes well into the depth of the boundary layer. For an atmosphere having an effective upper bound for vertical spread, an expression for the trajectory of the centroid of the diffusing cloud is derived. The theoretically computed vertical spread is compared with experimental data on diffusion of tracer cloud over rough (urban) and smooth terrains.     

An analytic similarity theory for the planetary boundary layer stabilized by surface buoyancy

An analytic solution for a steady, horizontally homogeneous boundary layer with rotation, % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr % 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqaqpepeea0xe9qqVa0l % b9peea0lb9Lq-JfrVkFHe9peea0dXdarVe0Fb9pgea0xa9W8qr0-vr % 0-viWZqaceaabiGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiaadAgaaaa!38AA! \[ f \] , and surface friction velocity, û_*, subjected to surface buoyancy characterized by Obukhov length L, is proposed as follows. Nondimensional variables are % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr % 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqaqpepeea0xe9qqVa0l % b9peea0lb9Lq-JfrVkFHe9peea0dXdarVe0Fb9pgea0xa9W8qr0-vr % 0-viWZqaceaabiGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiabeA7a6jabg2 % da9iaadAgacaWG6bGaai4laiabeE7aOnaaBaaaleaacqGHxiIkaeqa % aOGaamyDamaaBaaaleaacqGHxiIkaeqaaOGaaiilaiqadwhagaqcai % abg2da9iabeE7aOnaaBaaaleaacqGHxiIkaeqaaOGabmyvayaajaGa % ai4laiqadwhagaqcamaaBaaaleaacqGHxiIkaeqaaOGaaiilaiqads % fagaqcaiabg2da9iqbes8a0zaajaGaai4laiaadwhadaWgaaWcbaGa % ey4fIOcabeaakiqadwhagaqcamaaBaaaleaacqGHxiIkcaGGSaaabe % aaaaa!5587! \[ \zeta = fz/\eta _ * u_ * ,\hat u = \eta _ * \hat U/\hat u_ * ,\hat T = \hat \tau /u_ * \hat u_{ * ,} \] , where carets denote complex (vector) quantities; Û is the mean velocity; % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqaqpepeea0xe9qqVa0l% b9peea0lb9Lq-JfrVkFHe9peea0dXdarVe0Fb9pgea0xa9W8qr0-vr% 0-viWZqaceaabiGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiqbes8a0zaaja% aaaa!3994!\[\hat \tau \]is the kinematic turbulent stress; and % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr % 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqaqpepeea0xe9qqVa0l % b9peea0lb9Lq-JfrVkFHe9peea0dXdarVe0Fb9pgea0xa9W8qr0-vr % 0-viWZqaceaabiGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiabeE7aOnaaBa % aaleaacqGHxiIkaeqaaOGaeyypa0JaaiikaiaaigdacqGHRaWkcqaH % +oaEdaWgaaWcbaGaamOtaaqabaGccaWG1bWaaSbaaSqaaiabgEHiQa % qabaGccaGGVaGaamOuamaaBaaaleaacaWGJbaabeaakiaadAgacaWG % mbGaaiykamaaCaaaleqabaGaeyOeI0IaaGymaiaac+cacaaIYaaaaa % aa!4B1F! \[ \eta _ * = (1 + \xi _N u_ * /R_c fL)^{ - 1/2} \]is a stability parameter. The constant % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr % 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqaqpepeea0xe9qqVa0l % b9peea0lb9Lq-JfrVkFHe9peea0dXdarVe0Fb9pgea0xa9W8qr0-vr % 0-viWZqaceaabiGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiabe67a4naaBa % aaleaacaWGobaabeaaaaa!3A81! \[\xi _N \] is the ratio of the maximum mixing length(% MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqaqpepeea0xe9qqVa0l% b9peea0lb9Lq-JfrVkFHe9peea0dXdarVe0Fb9pgea0xa9W8qr0-vr% 0-viWZqaceaabiGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaamaaBaaaleaaca% WGTbaabeaaaaa!38DD!\[_m \]) to the PBL depth, % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr % 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqaqpepeea0xe9qqVa0l % b9peea0lb9Lq-JfrVkFHe9peea0dXdarVe0Fb9pgea0xa9W8qr0-vr % 0-viWZqaceaabiGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiaadwhadaWgaa % WcbaGaey4fIOcabeaakiaac+cacaWGMbaaaa!3B7C! \[ u_ * /f \] , for neutrally stable conditions; and % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqaqpepeea0xe9qqVa0l% b9peea0lb9Lq-JfrVkFHe9peea0dXdarVe0Fb9pgea0xa9W8qr0-vr% 0-viWZqaceaabiGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiaadkfadaWgaa% WcbaGaam4yaaqabaaaaa!39AA!\[R_c\](the critical flux Richardson number) is the ratio % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr % 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqaqpepeea0xe9qqVa0l % b9peea0lb9Lq-JfrVkFHe9peea0dXdarVe0Fb9pgea0xa9W8qr0-vr % 0-viWZqaceaabiGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiaadYgadaWgaa % WcbaGaamyBaaqabaGccaGGVaGaamitaaaa!3B5C! \[ l_m /L \] under highly stable conditions. Profiles of stress and velocity in the ocean (<0) are given by % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr % 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqaqpepeea0xe9qqVa0l % b9peea0lb9Lq-JfrVkFHe9peea0dXdarVe0Fb9pgea0xa9W8qr0-vr % 0-viWZqaceaabiGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaamaaxacabaGabm % yDayaajaGaeyypa0ZaaiqaaqaabeqaaiabgkHiTiaadMgacqaH0oaz % caWGLbWaaWbaaSqabeaacqaH0oazcqaH2oGEaaGccaqGGaGaaeiiai % aabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGa % aeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccaca % qGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaa % bccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaae % iiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqG % GaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabc % cacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeii % aiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGa % GaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabcca % caqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaeqOTdONaeyizImQaeyOeI0Iaeq % OVdG3aaSbaaSqaaiaad6eaaeqaaaGcbaGaeyOeI0IaamyAaiabes7a % KjaadwgadaahaaWcbeqaaiabes7aKjabe67a4naaBaaameaacaWGob % aabeaaaaGccqGHsisldaWcaaqaaiabeE7aOnaaBaaaleaacaGGQaaa % beaaaOqaaiaadUgaaaWaamWaaeaaciGGSbGaaiOBamaalaaabaWaaq % WaaeaacqaH2oGEaiaawEa7caGLiWoaaeaacqaH+oaEdaWgaaWcbaGa % amOtaaqabaaaaOGaey4kaSIaaiikaiabes7aKjabgkHiTiaadggaca % GGPaGaaiikaiabeA7a6jabgUcaRiabe67a4naaBaaaleaacaWGobaa % beaakiaacMcacqGHsisldaWcaaqaaiaadggaaeaacaaIYaaaaiabes % 7aKjaacIcacqaH2oGEdaahaaWcbeqaaiaaikdaaaGccqGHsislcqaH % +oaEdaqhaaWcbaGaamOtaaqaaiaaikdaaaGccaGGPaaacaGLBbGaay % zxaaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiabeA7a6naaBaaaleaacaaI % WaaabeaakiabgwMiZkabeA7a6jabg6da+iabgkHiTiabe67a4naaBa % aaleaacaWGobaabeaaaaGccaGL7baaaSqabKazbaiabaGabmivayaa % jaGaeyypa0JaamyzamaaCaaajqMaacqabeaacaWGPbGaeqiTdqMaeq % OTdOhaaaaaaaa!C5AA! \[ \mathop {\hat u = \left\{ \begin{array}{l} - i\delta e^{\delta \zeta } {\rm{ }}\zeta \le - \xi _N \\ - i\delta e^{\delta \xi _N } - \frac{{\eta _* }}{k}\left[ {\ln \frac{{\left| \zeta \right|}}{{\xi _N }} + (\delta - a)(\zeta + \xi _N ) - \frac{a}{2}\delta \end{array} \right.}\limits^{\hat T = e^{i\delta \zeta } } \] where % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr % 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqaqpepeea0xe9qqVa0l % b9peea0lb9Lq-JfrVkFHe9peea0dXdarVe0Fb9pgea0xa9W8qr0-vr % 0-viWZqaceaabiGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiabes7aKjabg2 % da9maabmaabaGaamyAaiaac+cacaWGRbGaeqOVdG3aaSbaaSqaaiaa % d6eaaeqaaaGccaGLOaGaayzkaaWaaWbaaSqabeaacaaIXaGaai4lai % aaikdaaaGccaGG7aGaamyyaiabg2da9iabeE7aOnaaBaaaleaacqGH % xiIkaeqaaOGaaiikaiaaigdacaGGVaGaeqOVdG3aaSbaaSqaaiaad6 % eaaeqaaOGaey4kaSIaamyDamaaBaaaleaacqGHxiIkaeqaaOGaai4l % aiaadAgacaWGmbGaamOuamaaBaaaleaacaWGJbaabeaakiaacMcaca % GGOaGaaGymaiabgkHiTiabeE7aOnaaBaaaleaacqGHxiIkaeqaaOGa % aiykaiaacUdaaaa!5CB6! \[ \delta = \left( {i/k\xi _N } \right)^{1/2} ;a = \eta _ * (1/\xi _N + u_ * /fLR_c )(1 - \eta _ * ); \] and ₀ is the nondimensional surface roughness. The constants are% MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqaqpepeea0xe9qqVa0l% b9peea0lb9Lq-JfrVkFHe9peea0dXdarVe0Fb9pgea0xa9W8qr0-vr% 0-viWZqaceaabiGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiaadkfadaWgaa% WcbaGaam4yaaqabaaaaa!39AA!\[R_c \]= 0.2 and% MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqaqpepeea0xe9qqVa0l% b9peea0lb9Lq-JfrVkFHe9peea0dXdarVe0Fb9pgea0xa9W8qr0-vr% 0-viWZqaceaabiGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiabe67a4naaBa% aaleaacaWGobaabeaaaaa!3A81!\[\xi _N \]= 0.052. The solutions for the atmosphere are similar except û is the nondimensional velocity The model produces satisfactory predictions of geostrophic drag and near-surface current (wind) profiles under stable stratification.     

On similarity in the atmospheric boundary layer

A similarity theory for the atmospheric boundary layer is presented. The Monin-Obukhov similarity theory for the surface layer is a particular case of this new theory, for the case of z 0. Universal functions which are in agreement with empirical data are obtained for the stable and convective regimes.On leave from Institute of Environmental Engineering, Warsaw Technical University, 00653 Warsaw, Poland. Present address, Department of Geological and Geophysical Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53201 U.S.A.     

On the instability of a planetary boundary layer with Rossby-number similarity

The formation of longitudinal vortex rolls in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) is investigated by means of perturbation analysis. The method is the same as that used by previous authors who have investigated the instability of a laminar Ekman layer. To study the instability of the turbulent boundary layer of the atmosphere, vertical profiles are needed of the eddy viscosity and of the two components of the basic flow. These profiles have been obtained by a numerical PBL-model; they are universal for zz ₀. (However, the stability equations are not completely universal, i.e., independent of the external parameters). For each thermal stratification, expressed by the internal stratification parameter , one has a set of three consistent profiles.The numerical solution of the stability equations gives the critical values and the perturbation growth rates as functions of thermal stratification and of the surface Rossby number Ro₀. This is in contrast to the case of a laminar Ekman layer, where the instability depends on a Reynolds number only, which makes atmospheric applications difficult. The most unstable perturbations are found for Ro₀ = 1 × 10⁶ approximately, which is in the range of surface Rossby numbers observed in the atmosphere. However, considering vortex rolls oriented in the direction of the surface stress, the instability is found to be universal, i.e., independent of the external parameters combined in the surface Rossby number. With respect to thermal stratification, the results show that the instability of the perturbations increases with increasing static stability.     

论大气边界层的局地相似性

本文利用日本气象厅研究所在筑波市213m气象塔1983年观测的湍流资料验证了大气边界层的局地相似性,求出了相似性函数的经验常数.进一步建立了局地湍流统计量同近地面层和边界层顶湍流通量之间的关系.     

A similarity model for maximum ground-level concentration in a height-invariant,stably stratified atmospheric boundary layer

A model is presented for determining the location and magnitude of the maximum ground-level concentration arising from an elevated buoyant source in a very stable atmospheric boundary layer. The development combines the turbulent structure of such a boundary layer, Lagrangian similarity of the diffusion process, and similarity solutions of the conservation equations of the buoyant plume with mass conservation to produce a simple, experimentally verifiable formulation. Functional analogy with previous results for the constant flux layer and a deep convectively unstable layer suggest a heuristic model by which to visualize the process.     

A similarity model for maximum ground-level concentration in a freely convective atmospheric boundary layer

A model of buoyancy- and momentum-driven industrial plumes in a freely convective boundary layer is proposed. The development combines the Lagrangian similarity models of Yaglom for non-buoyant releases in the convective surface layer with the Scorer similarity model for industrial plumes. Constraints on the validity of the extension of Yaglom’s model to the entire convective planetary boundary layer, arrived at by consideration of Batchelor’s formulation for diffusion in an inertial subrange, are often met in practice. The resulting formulation applies to an interval of time in which the entrainment of the atmosphere by the plume is balanced by the entrainment of the plume by the atmosphere. It is argued that during this interval, both maximum plume rise and ground contact are achieved. Further examination of the physical interrelationship with the Csanady-Briggs formulation serves to consolidate the model hypotheses, as well as to simplify the derivation of maximum ground-level concentrations. Experimental evidence is presented for the validity of the model, based on Moore’s published data.     

On the instability of a planetary boundary layer with Rossby number similarity

In Part I (1975), a linear stability analysis with respect to the formation of longitudinal vortex rolls was given for aturbulent boundary layer of the atmosphere. However, that analysis investigated the effect of inflection point instability only; therefore it is applicable only to the case of neutral stratification. In Part II presented here, the analysis is extended to include the combined effect of inflection point instability and instability due to heating from below. In contrast with the result in Part I, the main result is that in considering both these effects, longitudinal vortex rolls can develop only if the boundary layer has an unstable stratification. Another important result is that the structure of developing vortex rolls and their growth-rates are universal in a boundary layer with Rossby-number similarity, i.e., they are independent of any external parameter. The same is true for the orientation of the vortex rolls: the angle between the axis of the rolls and the surface stress is independent of external parameters. The only quantity which is not universal is the phase speed, which indicates the speed with which the rolls move in a direction perpendicular to the vortex axis; this phase speed depends on the geostrophic wind and on the roughness-length. Paper presented at the XIIIth Biennual Fluid Dynamics Symposium 5–10 September, 1977, Olsztyn, Poland.     

Numerical simulations of the tropical air-sea planetary boundary layer

A one-dimensional numerical model of the planetary boundary layer was used to investigate thermal and kinetic energy budgets. The simulation experiments were based on two sets of data. The first set was based on a ‘typical’ June with climatological data extracted for the oceanic region slightly northeast of Barbados. The second set used data from the third phase of project BOMEX, for approximately the same area and time of year as the first set. Comparison with observations of three simulated elements (viz., sea surface temperature and wind and humidity at 6 m) which are important in determining the near-interface energy transports shows that:

1. the model is capable of realistic simulations of both ‘typical’ conditions, and conditions for a specific four-day period;
2. the model is capable of realistically simulating the differences between prevailing values of these parameters in the two cases (‘typical’ and specific four-day period).

The simulated interface fluxes are those of incoming and outgoing short- and long-wave radiation; transmitted radiation at -0.5 m in the ocean, sensible heat transfer into the ocean and air, and latent heat flux of evaporation. Comparison with observational analyses shows that the diurnal variations in net radiation and heat storage in the mixed layer are realistically simulated. The simulated values of evaporation are consistent with other estimates for both ‘typical’ conditions and specific conditions during this four-day period. The rate of heat storage varies between +51 and -37 percent of the diurnal maximum incoming radiation, and the evaporation varies between +16% and -13% of this term. The non-dimensional transfer coefficients (C _D, C_T, C_q) computed from the model show general agreement with the coefficients calculated from observations in the simulated region (Pondet al., 1971). The simulated vertical profiles of temperature are in general agreement with observed profiles, except in the uppermost portions of the atmospheric boundary layer where deviations of approximately 1.5C occur. Simulated vertical profiles of wind speed are generally consistent with observed profiles, with the largest deviations appearing to be of the order of 0.5 m s^-1. Simulated vertical profiles of the eddy fluxes of sensible heat, water vapor, and momentum are generally consistent with Bunker's (1970) aircraft-based measurements of these quantities. The time averages of these simulated profiles show regular decreases with height, while simulated profiles for specific hours of the day show intermediate maxima and minima, which are also seen in the measured profiles. The vertically integrated kinetic energy budgets of the modelled atmospheric layer are presented through the four terms of the kinetic energy budget, viz., the upper and the lower boundary drags, dissipation, and potential-to-kinetic conversion. The dominant terms in the atmospheric energy budgets are the production and dissipation terms, with kinetic energy being exported both to the overlying atmospheric layer and to the underlying oceanic layer at rates of about 2 to 6% of the production, respectively. Comparisons between the climatological and BOMEX simulations are presented. The vertically integrated humidity budgets are presented for the two simulation experiments. Under ‘typical’ conditions, the humidity budget reveals an upper boundary flux of about +29% of the lower boundary flux with the vertically integrated advective flux being -59% of the lower flux. For the specific four-day simulation, the upper boundary flux and advection are about +28 and -70%, respectively, of the lower boundary flux.     

A model of the planetary boundary layer over a snow surface

A model of the planetary boundary layer over a snow surface has been developed. It contains the vertical heat exchange processes due to radiation, conduction, and atmospheric turbulence. Parametrization of the boundary layer is based on similarity functions developed by Hoffert and Sud (1976), which involve a dimensionless variable, ζ, dependent on boundary-layer height and a localized Monin-Obukhov length. The model also contains the atmospheric surface layer and the snowpack itself, where snowmelt and snow evaporation are calculated. The results indicate a strong dependence of surface temperatures, especially at night, on the bursts of turbulence which result from the frictional damping of surface-layer winds during periods of high stability, as described by Businger (1973). The model also shows the cooling and drying effect of the snow on the atmosphere, which may be the mechanism for air mass transformation in sub-Arctic regions.     

Effects of turbulent dispersion of atmospheric balance motions of planetary boundary layer

New Reynolds' mean momentum equations including both turbulent viscosity and dispersion are used to analyze atmospheric balance motions of the planetary boundary layer. It is pointed out that turbulent dispersion with r 0 will increase depth of Ekman layer, reduce wind velocity in Ekman layer and produce a more satisfactory Ekman spiral lines fit the observed wind hodograph. The wind profile in the surface layer including tur-bulent dispersion is still logarithmic but the von Karman constant k is replaced by k1 = 1 -2/k, the wind increasesa little more rapidly with height.     

An assessment of proposed similarity theories for the atmospheric boundary layer

The various similarity theories proposed for the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) are critically examined in the light of some recent atmospheric observations as well as the results of numerical modeling experiments. For the surface layer, the theory proposed by Monin and Obukhov (1954) is still the best, although by no means perfect. For the whole ABL, the older Kazanski-Monin (1961) similarity theory is found to be less satisfactory, and must be replaced by the generalized version of Deardorff's (1972a) hypothesis, which considers the effects of varying boundary-layer height, latitude, stability, and baroclinicity. The latter presents no conceptual or mathematical difficulties when applied to low latitudes. The free convection similarity scaling is valid only for certain turbulent quantities, under well-developed convection. The shear convection hypothesis of Zilitinkevich (1973) for the surface layer, as well as its extension for the whole ABL, are found wanting on both theoretical and physical grounds, and lead to unrealistic predictions about the turbulence structure.Contribution No. 350, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington.     

Similarity theory and resistance laws for the planetary boundary layer

Methods are developed for the determination of parameters of the atmospheric planetary boundary layer, within the framework of similarity theory based on the external parameters — wind velocity at the upper boundary of the layer, its thickness, air temperature difference between the upper and the lower boundaries, roughness of the underlying surface, and buoyancy forces. The form of the resistance laws is discussed. Determination of the thickness of the stationary and horizontally homogeneous (Ekman) boundary layer is analyzed and generalizations of the latter are suggested for non-stationary and inhomogeneous boundary layers.     

Numerical simulation of a stable planetary boundary layer over the Argentine continental shelf

A two-dimensional planetary boundary-layer model is employed to simulate numerically observed temperature and humidity profiles of an airflow over the Argentine continental shelf. Predicted profiles satisfactorily agree with observed ones which are characterized by a stable boundary layer.     

A barotropic model of the Ekman planetary boundary layer based on the geostrophic momentum approximation

A model of a stationary planetary boundary layer is proposed based on the equation of motion with the advective term retained. The latter is modeled by means of the so-called geostrophic momentum approximation in two versions — original and modified. New expressions for the vertical velocity W at the top of the boundary layer are derived and analyzed. They underestimate W compared to the classical expression.     

Determination of similarity functions of the resistance laws for the planetary boundary layer using surface-layer similarity functions

Functional forms of the universal similarity functions A, B (for wind components parallel and normal to the surface stress), and C (for potential temperature difference) are determined based on the generalized theory of the resistance laws for the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL). The similarity-profile functions for the surface layer are matched with the velocity and temperature-defect profiles that are assumed to have shapes modified by certain powers of nondimensional height z/h, where h is the PBL height. The powers of the outer-layer profile functions are determined, so that the functions become negligible in the surface layer. To close the temperature defect law, an assumption that the temperature gradient across the top of the PBL is continuous with the stratification of the overlying atmosphere is used. The result of this assumption is that nondimensional momentum and temperature profiles in the PBL can be described in terms of four basic ratios: (1) roughness ratio = /h (2) scale-height ratio =|f|h/u_*, (3) ambient stratification parameter =h/_*, and (4) stability parameter =h/L, where L is the Monin-Obukhov length, z₀ is the surface roughness, is the upper-air stratification, u _* is the friction velocity, and _* is the temperature scale at the surface. For stable conditions, the scale-height ratio can be related to the atmospheric stability and the upperair stratification, and the generalized similarity and Rossby number similarity theories become identical. Under appropriate boundary conditions, function A is explicitly dependent on the stability parameter , while B is a function of scale-height ratio , which in turn depends on the stability. Function C is shown to be dependent on the stability and the upper-air stratification, due to the closure assumption used for the temperature profile.The suggested functional forms are compared with other empirical approximations by several authors. The general framework used to determine the functional forms needs to be tested against good boundary-layer measurements.     

Further results from a laboratory model of the convective planetary boundary layer

The turbulence in a laboratory convective mixed layer is probed more extensively than in the preliminary study of Willis and Deardorff (1974), and results presented. Turbulence intensities, spectra and probability distributions using mixed-layer scaling compare favorably with similarly scaled field measurements not available or plentiful in 1974. However, the velocity spectra in the convection tank exhibit only a short inertial subrange due to the close proximity of the dissipation subrange to the energy-containing range.The turbulence budget suggests that the convergence of the vertical transport of pressure fluctuations is a rather important term.Results on the entrainment rate are also presented, using both mixed-layer scaling and local interfacial scaling.     

Equilibrium theory of the planetary boundary layer with an inversion lid

The maintenance of an elevated inversion in steady flow above a cold, rotating surface is shown to be possible for a certain range of the buoyancy number bfV _g, where b is the buoyant acceleration appropriate to the density deficiency of the fluid above the inversion, f is Coriolis parameter and V _gis geostrophic velocity (so that fV _gis also horizontal pressure gradient in kinematic units). The height of the inversion lid is determined by a balance of surface stress and buoyancy, in a way which may be deduced from laboratory experiments. With the aid of such empirical evidence a theory is constructed for the layer below the inversion lid. The cross-isobar angle of ground-level stress is found to increase with the buoyancy number, to a limiting value of 90, by which time the inversion descends to the ground. Under typical conditions, a temperature difference of order 10C is necessary to eliminate the possibility of an equilibrium, elevated inversion lid and reduce ground level wind stress to a vanishingly small value.Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Contribution #3011On leave from the University of Waterloo, Ontario