Morning Boundary-Layer Turbulent Kinetic Energy by Theoretical Models

A major factor that influences the diurnal variation of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) is the sensible heat flux at the surface. Here, the TKE variations are analysed during the morning transition phase because subsequent to the neutral or stable stratification during the night, peaks of concentration of scalars develop. The characteristics of the TKE during the growth phase of convection are analysed with the help of two analytical models. For this purpose, a three-dimensional spectral model of the growth of convection, starting from a neutral layer, and other formulations of micrometeorological parameters such as the convective and neutral spectra, velocity variance and dissipation rates are utilised. The peak values in the TKE spectra in the lower, middle and upper levels of the convective boundary layer showed a migration to higher wavelengths as the convection increased with time. The TKE evolutions generated by the analytical models agree fairly well with the results of large-eddy simulation for three vertical levels.