An analytical study of diurnal wind-structure variations in the boundary layer and the low-level nocturnal jet

An analytical framework is proposed for studying variations in the diurnal wind structure in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) and the evolution of the low-level nocturnal jet. A time-dependent eddy-diffusivity coefficient corresponding to solar input is proposed, and an appropriate coordinate transformation ensures that mixing height varies continuously with ground heat-flux changes. The solution exhibits the receding character of the daytime PBL as evening approaches, thereby dividing the PBL into two regimes — the one just above the ground, representing the nocturnal boundary layer, and the region above it. It is assumed that inertial oscillations (IO) are triggered in the upper layer at about the time of sunset when the reversal in the direction of ground heat flux is felt in the upper layer. Two approaches are adopted to determine the characteristic features of IO and the evolution of the nocturnal low-level jet. The first one is based on the physical principle that release of horizontal momentum due to deviation from the geostrophic wind gives rise to the IO. The solution captures all the characteristic features of the IO, such as phase shift and decreasing amplitude of the IO with increasing height. According to this analysis the IO is triggered at a level as soon as the top of the receding boundary layer leaves that level. The solution is discontinuous with respect to the vertical coordinate. In the second approach we solve an initial-value problem to determine the solution in the upper layer, assuming that at about the time of sunset there is a rapid collapse of the daytime PBL to the steady, nocturnal boundary layer. The assumption is based on the mixing-height profiles prepared from climatological data collected at Delhi. The solution for the nocturnal boundary-layer regime is then obtained as a boundary-value problem. The solutions so obtained are continuous throughout the domain of interest and exhibit the characteristic features of an IO. The analysis leads to the conditions under which a low-level nocturnal jet is produced and provides quantitative estimates of the parameters, such as length of night, latitude, mixing height at sunset and nocturnal mixing height, that are conducive to the generation of a jet. The nocturnal wind profile produced by this approach compares well both with typical atmospheric data observed at Delhi and with output from a mesoscale numerical model. There is still some uncertainty related to the time of initiation of the IO as a function of latitude.     

Evaluation of MM5 mesoscale model at local scale for air quality applications over the Swedish west coast: Influence of PBL and LSM parameterizations

Summary The performance of MM5 mesoscale model (Version 3.6.3) using different planetary boundary layer (PBL) and land surface model (LSM) parameterizations is evaluated and compared using high temporal and spatial resolution G?TE2001 campaign data at local scale (a few kilometers) over the Greater G?teborg area along the Swedish west coast during 7–20 May 2001. The focus is on impact of PBL and LSM parameterizations on simulated meteorological variables important for air quality applications such as global radiation, diurnal cycle of near-surface air temperature and wind, diurnal cycle intensity, near-surface vertical temperature gradient, nocturnal temperature inversion, boundary layer height, and low-level jet (LLJ). The model performance for daytime and nighttime and under different weather conditions is also discussed. The purpose is to examine the performance of the model using different PBL and LSM parameterizations at local scale in this area for its potential applications in air quality modeling. The results indicate that the influence of PBL and LSM parameterizations on simulated global radiation, diurnal cycle of near-surface air temperature and wind speed, diurnal cycle intensity, vertical temperature gradient, nocturnal temperature inversion and PBL heights, which are critical parameters for air quality applications, is evident. Moreover, the intensity and location of LLJ are simulated well by all schemes, but there also exist some differences between simulated results by using different PBL and LSM schemes. Therefore, the choice of PBL and LSM parameterizations is important for MM5 applications to air quality studies. Correspondence: Junfeng Miao, Department of Earth Sciences, G?teborg University, P.O. Box 460, 405 30 G?teborg, Sweden     

The wind in the baroclinic boundary layer with three sublayers incorporating the weak non-linear effect

In considering the weak non-linear effect, and using the small parameter expansion method, the analyt-ical expressions of the wind distribution within PBL (planetary boundary layer) and the vertical velocity at the top of the PBL are obtained when the PBL is divided into three layers and different eddy transfer coefficients K are adopted for the three layers. The conditions of barotropy and neutrality for the PBL are extended to that of baroclinity and non-neutral stratification. An example of a steady circular vortex is used to display the characteristics of the horizontal wind within the PBL and the vertical velocity at the top of the PBL. Some new results have been obtained, indicating that the magnitude of the speed in the lower height calculated by the present model is larger than that by the model in which k is a constant within the whole boundary layer, for example, in the classical Ekman boundary layer model and the model by Wu (1984). The angle between the wind at the top of the PBL and the wind near the surface calculated by the present model is less than that calculated by the single K model. These results are in agreement with the observations.     

DISTRIBUTION OF AEROSOL EXTINCTION IN THE LOWER TROPOSPHERE BY MICRO-PULSE LIDAR OBSERVATION

The profiles of aerosol extinction coefficients are investigated by micro-pulse lidar(MPL)combined with the meteorological data in the lower troposphere at Meteorological ResearchInstitute(MRI).Japan.Larger extinction values of aerosol are demonstrated in the nocturnalstable air layer with larger Richardson number,and light wind velocities are favorable for aerosolconcentrating in the planetary boundary layer(PBL).But aerosol extinction coefficients showlarger values over the altitudes of 2.0 to 5.0km where correspond to higher relative humidity(RH).The tops of PBL identified by the aerosol extinction profiles almost agree with ones byradiosonde data.The diurnal variations of aerosol extinction profiles are clearly displayed,intensive aerosol layers usually are formed over the period of mid-morning to 1400 Loeal Time(LT).then elapse in the cloudless late afternoon and nighttime.Thermal eonvection or turbulenttransport from the surfaee probably dominates these temporal and spatial changes of aerosoldistribution.     

Vertical and Horizontal Transport of Energy and Matter by Coherent Motions in a Tall Spruce Canopy

In the framework of the EGER (ExchanGE processes in mountainous Regions) project, the contribution of coherent structures to vertical and horizontal transports in a tall spruce canopy is investigated. The combination of measurements done in both the vertical and horizontal directions allows us to investigate coherent structures, their temporal scales, their role in flux transport, vertical coupling between the sub-canopy, canopy and air above the canopy, and horizontal coupling in the sub-canopy layer. The temporal scales of coherent structures detected with the horizontally distributed systems in the sub-canopy layer are larger than the temporal scales of coherent structures detected with the vertically distributed systems. The flux contribution of coherent structures to the momentum and sensible heat transport is found to be dominant in the canopy layer. Carbon dioxide and latent heat transport by coherent structures increase with height and reach a maximum at the canopy height. The flux contribution of the ejection decreases with increasing height and becomes dominant above the canopy level. The flux fraction transported during the sweep increases with height and becomes the dominant exchange process at the upper canopy level. The determined exchange regimes indicate consistent decoupling between the sub-canopy, canopy and air above the canopy during evening, nighttime and morning hours, whereas the coupled states and coupled by sweep states between layers are observed mostly during the daytime. Furthermore, the horizontal transport of sensible heat by coherent structures is investigated, and the heterogeneity of the contribution of coherent events to the flux transport is demonstrated. A scheme to determine the horizontal coupling by coherent structures in the sub-canopy layer is proposed, and it is shown that the sub-canopy layer is horizontally coupled mainly in the wind direction. The vertical coupling in most cases is observed together with streamwise horizontal coupling, whereas the cross-stream direction is decoupled.     

上海世博园上空边界层风垂直变化观测研究

利用平矩阵风廓线雷达于2007年7月17日至9月28日对上海世博园规划区上空的风垂直分布进行了观测.通过分析该地上空三维风场的日变化,发现夜间以偏西气流为主,白天风速较小,以偏东气流为主,表明该地区以海陆风为主导的环流特征是这一地区的局地环流日变化的基本特征.逐日变化分析表明,在8月2日以前主要以偏西北气流为主,之后基本是以东南气流为主,并且垂直运动特征以上升气流为主,强烈的垂直运动与偏西气流相关密切,同时偏北气流往往带来较强的上升运动.日夜平均廓线分析表明,夜间风速较大,并且夜间风速的垂直变化与白天相比也有很大不同,白天270 m以下风速随高度基本不变,而夜间从近地面向上风速随高度逐渐增大,低层<90 m的范围内白天风速大于夜间风速.城市冠层以上风向的日夜变化不明显,多为偏北气流控制.城郊风廓线的对比表明受城市下垫面粗糙度的影响,城市风速明显比郊区减小.城市和郊区的水平风速变化在城市冠层以上比较接近,相关系数达到了87%.     

DISTRIBUTION OF AEROSOL EXTINCTION IN THE LOWER TROPOSPHERE BY MICRO-PULSE LIDAR OBSERVATION*

The profiles of aerosol extinction coefficients are investigated by micro-pulse lidar(MPL) combined with the meteorological data in the lower troposphere at Meteorological Research Institute(MRI).Japan.Larger extinction values of aerosol are demonstrated in the nocturnal stable air layer with larger Richardson number,and light wind velocities are favorable for aerosol concentrating in the planetary boundary layer(PBL).But aerosol extinction coefficients show larger values over the altitudes of 2.0 to 5.0km where correspond to higher relative humidity(RH).The tops of PBL identified by the aerosol extinction profiles almost agree with ones by radiosonde data.The diurnal variations of aerosol extinction profiles are clearly displayed,intensive aerosol layers usually are formed over the period of mid-morning to 1400 Loeal Time(LT).then elapse in the cloudless late afternoon and nighttime.Thermal eonvection or turbulent transport from the surfaee probably dominates these temporal and spatial changes of aerosol distribution.     

一个诊断非平坦地形上边界层风的数值模式

根据半地转大气边界层模式，由大尺度数值模式并考虑了下垫面地形及粗糙度的水平非均匀性及大尺度气压场的时空变化，给出了一个诊断边界层风的数值模式。对低纬度运用塔层风模式进行诊断。诊断结果与实测资料比较，风向风速均达到了一定的精确度。     

An Analytical Study of the Diurnal Variations of Wind in a Semi-geostrophic Ekman Boundary Layer Model

A time-dependent semi-geostrophic Ekman boundary-layer model based on the geostrophic momentum approximation is used to study the diurnal wind variation in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) and the evolution of the low-level nocturnal jet (LLJ). The coefficient of eddy viscosity varies periodically with time, varies linearly with height in the surface layer and is constant above the surface layer. The influence of horizontal advection of momentum on the diurnal wind variation in the PBL, the development of inertial oscillations (IOs) and the formation of the LLJ are examined.In comparison with the Ekman solutions, the diurnal wind variation in semi-geostrophic Ekman boundary-layer dynamics has the following features: (1) the phase angle of the diurnal wind wave shifts with height, the rate of shifting is increased in anticyclonic regions and decreased in cyclonic regions, (2) the time of occurrence of the low-level maximum wind speed is later in anticyclonic regions and earlier in cyclonic regions, (3) the height of occurrence of the maximum wind speed is higher in the anticyclonic and lower in cyclonic regions, (4) the wind speed maximum and the amplitude of the diurnal wind variation are larger in anticyclonic and smaller in cyclonic regions, (5) the period of IOs is larger in anticyclonic regions and smaller in cyclonic regions, (6) anticyclonic vorticity is conducive to the generation of LLJ in the PBL. These features are interpreted by means of the physical properties of semi-geostrophic Ekman boundary-layer dynamics and inertial oscillation dynamics.     

边界层方案对华北低层O3垂直分布模拟的影响

利用WRF-Chem模式,采用3种边界层参数化方案 (YSU, MYJ和ACM2),针对1个晴空、静稳日 (2013年8月26日20:00—27日20:00(北京时)) 进行模拟,着重分析不同边界层参数化方案对夜间残留层形成及日出前后O₃浓度垂直分布形式的模拟效果,并与固城站地面及垂直同步观测资料进行对比。结果表明:3种边界层参数化方案均能够模拟出温度及风速的区域分布形式以及风温垂直结构的变化特征;相比之下,MYJ方案模拟的夜间边界层高度较YSU方案和ACM2方案明显偏高,该对比结果可能是导致近地面污染物浓度模拟差异的重要原因;在夜间稳定层结至日出后稳定状态打破的边界层结构演变过程中,采用YSU方案和ACM2方案模拟的温度和风速垂直扩线形式与观测结果更为接近;同样采用非局地闭合的YSU方案和同时考虑局地和非局地闭合的ACM2方案,对于边界层高度内O₃浓度垂直分布形式的模拟效果具有明显优势。     

The wind field in the nonlinear multilayer planetary boundary layer

By use of the small parameter expansion method, the nonlinear planetary boundary layer (PBL) is studied in this paper. The PBL is divided into the surface layer and the Ekman layer, which is divided into several sublayers. In the surface-layer, the eddy coefficient K is taken as a linear function of height; in the Ekman layer, different constant K values are taken within different sublayers: these values are determined from O'Brien's formula (O'Brien, 1970) approximately. Under the upper and lower boundary conditions and the continuity conditions of the wind velocities and turbulent stresses at each boundary between sublayers, analytical expressions for wind velocity in all sublayers and the vertical velocity at the top of the PBL are obtained. A specific example of steady axisymmetrical circular high and low pressure areas is analysed, and some new conclusions are obtained. The results are in better agreement with reality than previous results. This example also shows that the vertical velocity at the top of the PBL caused by friction approaches zero near the center of a high or low pressure system for this model, but attains its maximum absolute values near the center of the high or low pressure area for Wu's (1984) model. This is due to the fact that in our model, the geostrophic wind speed near the center of this specific vortex approaches zero, which causes the wind shear and the friction effect to be very weak. Therefore the wind distribution in the PBL is very sensitive to the type of eddy coefficient.     

Use of a High-Resolution Sodar to Study Surface-layer Turbulence at Night

Measurements in the atmospheric surface layer are generally made with point sensors located in the first few tens of metres. In most cases, however, these measurements are not representative of the whole surface layer. Standard Doppler sodars allow a continuous display of the turbulent thermal structure and wind profiles in the boundary layer up to 1000 m, with a few points, if any, in the surface layer. To overcome these limitations a new sodar configuration is proposed that allows for a higher resolution in the surface layer. Because of its capabilities (echo recording starting at 2 m, echo intensity vertical resolution of approximately 2 m, temporal resolution of 1 s) this sodar is called the surface-layer mini-sodar (SLM-sodar). Features and capabilities of the SLM-sodar are described and compared with the sodar. The comparison of the thermal vertical structure given by the SLM-sodar and the sodar provides evidence that, in most cases, the surface layer presents a level of complexity comparable to that of the entire boundary layer. Considering its high vertical resolution, the SLM-sodar is a promising system for the study of the nocturnal surface layer. The nocturnal SLM-sodar measurements have shown that, depending on wind speed, the structure of the surface layer may change substantially within a short time period. At night, when the wind speed is greater than 3 m s⁻¹, mechanical mixing destroys the wavy structure present in the nocturnal layer. Sonic anemometer measurements have shown that, in such cases, also the sensible heat flux varies with height, reaching a peak in correspondence with the wind speed peak. Under these conditions the assumption of horizontal homogeneity of the surface layer and the choice of the averaging time need to be carefully treated.     

Numerical Study of Winter Urban Boundary Layer Structure over Beijing Area

1. Introduction The urban canopy layer (UCL) (Roth, 2000) is defined as a layer in the vertical structure of urban boundary layer (UBL) ranging from the surface to the top of buildings. The urban infrastructures within UCL, such as buildings with different heights, the het- erogeneity of urban land cover and the anthropogenic activity, all directly influence the thermal and dynam- ical structures of atmosphere and net radiation budget at the surface, meanwhile, affect the structure of ur- …     

基于Ka波段云雷达的六盘山顶云特征分析

利用宁夏六盘山气象站2017年9月至2018年8月的Ka波段云雷达观测资料,统计分析了六盘山顶不同云的出现频率及宏观特征.结果表明:六盘山顶云出现频率最高值在7月,为61％,最低值在12月,为26％;按云层数划分,六盘山顶出现的云主要以1层云、2层云及3层云为主,相对总云的月平均出现频率分别为68％—86％、14％—2...     

塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地大气边界层参数化方案的模拟评估

沙尘起沙、沉降、传输均受到沙漠地区大气边界层条件的制约。沙漠地区观测资料匮乏,限制大气边界层模拟效果的检验和评估。利用WRFV3.7.1中尺度数值模式中5种边界层参数化方案(ACM2、BL、MYJ、MYNN2.5、YSU),模拟2014年4月塔克拉玛干沙漠大气边界层特征,并与塔中80 m塔及风廓线雷达晴朗天气下的观测资料对比分析。结果表明:5种方案均能模拟出近地面气温及地表温度,边界层高度,感热、潜热、地表热通量的变化趋势,但未能模拟出边界层风速的日变化趋势,温风湿廓线能较好的反映晴日沙漠地区边界层结构的变化特征,但未模拟出风速随高度变化趋势。沙漠地区下垫面干燥,热容量低,晴天极易形成对流不稳定边界层,非局地湍流参数化方案,ACM2方案是沙漠地区大气边界层模拟较为合理的选择。     

The diurnal wind variation in a variable eddy viscosity semi-geostrophic Ekman boundary-layer model: Analytical study

Summary ?A time-dependent semi-geostrophic Ekman boundary-layer model (SG), including slowly varying eddy diffusivity with height and inertial term effects, is developed to investigate the diurnal wind variation in the planetary boundary layer (PBL). An approximate analytical solution of this model is derived by using the WKB method, which extends the Tan and Farahani (1998)’s solution by including the vertical variable eddy viscosity. The features of the diurnal wind variation in the PBL mainly depend on three factors: the latitude, horizontal momentum advection and eddy viscosity. The vertical variable eddy viscosity has little influence on diurnal wind variation in the PBL at the low latitude, however its effect may be exacerbated in the mid- and high latitudes. In comparing with the constant eddy viscosity case, the decreasing (increasing) with height eddy viscosity produces a large (small) maximum wind speed (MWS) in the PBL, however, the eddy viscosity that has a mid-layer peak in the vertical gives rise to a higher height of occurrence of MWS. For the boundary-layer wind structure, there is a singular point when the modified SG inertial oscillation frequency η equals the forcing frequency ω. The isotachs of boundary-layer wind speed have almost no tilt to left or right relative to time evolution and the occurrence time of the MWS is the earliest at the singular point. The feature will be enhanced in the decreasing with height eddy viscosity case and weakened in the eddy viscosity initially increasing with height case. Received April 6, 2001; accepted December 27, 2001     

城乡过渡地带低空温度平流和边界层特征的观测分析

利用兰州河谷盆地城乡过渡区边界层观测资料,分析了该地区的温度平流和边界层特征。分析表明:(1)夜间热岛环流明显,白天则较弱;(2)夜间200m高度以下有较强的冷平流,在250～400m高度有较弱的暖平流,冷暖温度平流对测点上空边界层温度和层结变化有显著影响;(3)由声雷达确定的夜间边界层高度对应于Ri<1.0的高度,在这一高度范围内存在逆位温和强的风切变。本地区下垫面和复杂的地形导致夜间边界层高度随时间周期性地升高和降低,变化周期约3h。     

Intercomparison of Planetary Boundary-Layer Parametrizations in the WRF Model for a Single Day from CASES-99

This study compares five planetary boundary-layer (PBL) parametrizations in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) numerical model for a single day from the Cooperative Atmosphere-Surface Exchange Study (CASES-99) field program. The five schemes include two first-order closure schemes—the Yonsei University (YSU) PBL and Asymmetric Convective Model version 2 (ACM2), and three turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) closure schemes—the Mellor–Yamada–Janjić (MYJ), quasi-normal scale elimination (QNSE), and Bougeault–Lacarrére (BouLac) PBL. The comparison results reveal that discrepancies among thermodynamic surface variables from different schemes are large at daytime, while the variables converge at nighttime with large deviations from those observed. On the other hand, wind components are more divergent at nighttime with significant biases. Regarding PBL structures, a non-local scheme with the entrainment flux proportional to the surface flux is favourable in unstable conditions. In stable conditions, the local TKE closure schemes show better performance. The sensitivity of simulated variables to surface-layer parametrizations is also investigated to assess relative contributions of the surface-layer parametrizations to typical features of each PBL scheme. In the surface layer, temperature and moisture are more strongly influenced by surface-layer formulations than by PBL mixing algorithms in both convective and stable regimes, while wind speed depends on vertical diffusion formulations in the convective regime. Regarding PBL structures, surface-layer formulations only contribute to near-surface variability and then PBL mean properties, whereas shapes of the profiles are determined by PBL mixing algorithms.     

Diurnal and seasonal variations of wind farm impacts on land surface temperature over western Texas

This paper analyzes seasonal and diurnal variations of MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature (LST) data at ~1.1 km for the period of 2003–2011 over a region in West-Central Texas, where four of the world’s largest wind farms are located. Seasonal anomalies are created from MODIS Terra (~10:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. local solar time) and Aqua (~1:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. local solar time) LSTs, and their spatiotemporal variability is analyzed by comparing the LST changes between wind farm pixels (WFPs) and nearby non wind farm pixels (NNWFPs) using different methods under different quality controls. Our analyses show consistently that there is a warming effect of 0.31–0.70 °C at nighttime for the nine-year period during which data was collected over WFPs relative to NNWFPs, in all seasons for both Terra and Aqua measurements, while the changes at daytime are much noisier. The nighttime warming effect is much larger in summer than winter and at ~10:30 p.m. than ~1:30 a.m. and hence the largest warming effect is observed at ~10:30 p.m. in summer. The spatial pattern and magnitude of this warming effect couple very well with the geographic distribution of wind turbines and such coupling is stronger at nighttime than daytime and in summer than winter. Together, these results suggest that the warming effect observed in MODIS over wind farms are very likely attributable to the development of wind farms. This inference is consistent with the increasing number of operational wind turbines with time during the study period, the diurnal and seasonal variations in the frequency of wind speed and direction distribution, and the changes in near-surface atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) conditions due to wind farm operations. The nocturnal ABL is typically stable and much thinner than the daytime ABL and hence the turbine enhanced vertical mixing produces a stronger nighttime effect. The stronger wind speed and the higher frequency of the wind speed within the optimal power generation range in summer than winter and at nighttime than daytime likely drives wind turbines to generate more electricity and turbulence and consequently results in the strongest warming effect at nighttime in summer. Similarly, the stronger wind speed and the higher frequency of optimal wind speed at ~10:30 p.m. than that at ~1:30 a.m. might help explain, to some extent, why the nighttime LST warming effect is slightly larger at ~10:30 p.m. than ~1:30 a.m. The nighttime warming effect seen in spring and fall are smaller than that in summer and can be explained similarly.     

变化涡动沾性系数的Ekman动量近似模式风场结构

在边界层动力学中，涡动粘性系数是影响边界层风场结构的一个重要参数。本文利用边界层动力学中的Ekman动量近似理论，给出了涡动粘性系数随高度缓变条件下的Ekman动量近似边界层模式解，着重讨论了边界层的风场结构、水平散度、垂直涡度以及边界层顶部的垂直速度。结果分析表明：与常值涡动粘性系数情况相比，在边界层低层随高度增加的涡动粘性系数可以导致低层边界层风速随高度迅速增加，即风速垂直切变增加，同时风速矢与地转风之间的夹角减小。惯性项作用可以导致上述作用在气旋性区域减小、而在反气旋性区域增大。随高度增加的涡动粘性系数导致水平散度绝对值、垂直涡度绝对值以及边界层顶部的垂直速度绝对值在气旋性区域减小，而在反气性旋区域增大。涡动粘性系数与惯性之间的非线性相互作用是边界层动力学中重要过程。