Near-surface turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer

Measurements of the near-surface turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer have been made using hot-wire probes above the salt flats of northwestern Utah, where the momentum thickness Reynolds number, R_θ, is O(10⁶), and the surface is smooth and nearly devoid of flow obstructions. The measurements were made with arrays of up to 24 parallel straight sensors and with a modular 12-sensor probe capable of measuring all of the components of the instantaneous velocity vector and velocity gradient tensor. Measurements were also made in a laboratory wind tunnel at R_θ=1730 using 22 straight sensors. The data analysis focuses on the effects of the Reynolds number on turbulence properties and on the physics of the dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy.Some properties are found to be dependent on the Reynolds number when normalized with inner variables, while others are not. Among those that show the significant Reynolds number dependence are the rms and the skewness factor of the streamwise velocity fluctuations.Significant differences in flow structure, particularly those related to high rates of dissipation, are implied by the data. The joint PDF and covariance integrand of streamwise and wall normal vorticity fluctuations show less preferred orientation of the vorticity vector in the buffer layer at R_θ of O(10⁶) than at R_θ=1070. The largest contribution to the dissipation rate, at O(10⁶) is by the ∂w/∂z velocity gradient, while this term makes a quite small contribution to the dissipation rate at low R_θ. Here w and z are the spanwise velocity fluctuations and direction, respectively. Conditional analysis in the streamwise-wall normal (x−y) plane based on high instantaneous dissipation rate shows that the typical high dissipation rate events are generally similar at high and low Reynolds numbers, but display some significant differences.     

An explicit algebraic model of the planetary boundary layer turbulence: test computation of the neutrally stratified atmospheric boundary layer

An explicit algebraic model of Reynolds stresses and the turbulent heat flux vector for the planetary boundary layer in a neutrally stratified boundary layer of the atmosphere above a homogeneous rough surface is tested. The version of the algebraic model under consideration is constructed on the physical principles of the RANS (Reynolds-averaged Navier?Stokes) approximation for describing stratified turbulence, it employs three forecasting equations, and a correct reproduction of the main characteristics of a neutral atmospheric boundary layer — the components of the mean wind velocity, the wind turn angle, and the turbulent statistics is shown. Test computations show that the proposed model may be used for goal-oriented investigations of the atmospheric boundary layer.     

Study of local scaling in the stable atmospheric boundary layer for the evaluation of turbulence parameters

Summary A renewed interest in the dynamic and thermal structure of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) has recently revived, due to the contribution that this layer can provide to the improvement of skill of weather prediction and climate simulation in the most advanced general circulation models. The attention is particularly focused on non-stationary and non-homogeneous turbulent structures of this transition layer, for which many parametrization schemes, based on local-and non-local-closure assumptions, have been proposed. However, also stationary, non-homogeneous, continous-turbulence conditions can give rise to some complication in the ABL parametrization when air stability becomes stronger and stronger. In this situation, the governing scales of the classical non-local Monin-Obukhov similarity theory are no more representative, and new local scales must be derived from local forcings of the flux. This paper summarizes a few relevant points of the local-similarity theory and shows the results of a local-scaling analysis obtained by observation data of wind and temperature profiles in the ABL in the northern Po Valley Paper presented at the IX Congresso del Gruppo Nazionale per la Fisica dell'Atmosfera e dell'Oceano, June 8–10, 1992, Rome.     

A cell dynamical system model of chemical turbulence

A cellular-automaton-like caricature of chemical turbulence on an infinite one-dimensional lattice is studied. The model exhibits apparently turbulent space-time patterns. To make this statement precise, the following problems or points are discussed: (1) The infinite-system-size limit of such cell-dynamical systems and its observability is defined. (2) It is proved that the invariant state in the large-system-size limit of the turbulent phase exhibits spatial patterns governed by a Gibbs random field. (3) Potential characteristics of turbulent space-time patterns are critically surveyed and a working definition of (weak) turbulence is proposed. (4) It is proved that the invariant state of the turbulent phase is actually (weak) turbulent. Furthermore, we conjecture that the turbulent phase of our model is an example of a K system that is not Bernoulli.     

Multiple master length scales for stable atmospheric boundary layer

Summary A new method of derivation of characteristic turbulence length scales is analysed in a procedure that seems to be a more adequate way of determining stable boundary layer master length scales. The novel feature of this derivation is a provision formultiple length scales, one for each different spacial direction. In its general formulation, these multiple master length scales show a form similar to earlier proposals by Blackadar and his followers.     

大气边界层模式中随机参数的反演与不确定性分析

在大气边界层气象中湍流黏性系数是一个很重要的参数,通过直接观测往往无法得到其准确值,仅能通过间接观测获得大致范围.本文选用随机广义Ekman动力近似模式中的湍流黏性系数进行反演研究与不确定性分析.首先利用风速观测数据,并采用基于混沌多项式的集合Kalman滤波方法对系数进行反演,降低其不确定性,缩小可能取值的范围,该方法的核心思想是将集合Kalman滤波方法中求解模式不确定性传播的方法由蒙特卡罗法改为混沌多项式展开,从而避免大规模采样带来的计算资源耗费.然后进行数值实验,结果表明该方法能够有效且快速地求解出湍流黏性的后验概率分布,从而达到降低系数不确定性的目的.根据系数的先验分布计算出风速的先验分布,从而找到风速不确定性大的区域,且揭示了在不确定性大的区域内的观测数据进行系数反演可得到十分明显的效果,这对于观测点位置的选择提供了重要的指导.     

Nonlinear dynamical analysis of turbulence in a stable cloud layer

An eight mode truncated spectral model based on Burgers' approximation to the one-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations is used to compute the Lyapunov dimension of the dynamical attractor for turbulence in a stable cloud layer. The model results are compared with the correlation dimension obtained earlier from a time series of radar Doppler and reflectivity signals from a turbulent layer in a marine stratus cloud. The analysis supports a weak coupling explanation for the lower correlation dimension found for the reflectivity time series compared with that for the Doppler time series. Turbulent Prandtl number emerges from the analysis as a flow parameter which can enlarge the dimension of the model's dynamical attractor, but the attractor dimension computed for the model remains lower than the radar Doppler correlation dimension. Linear stability analysis of the model's equilibrium states suggests that a nontruncated version of the model will possess an attractor which is also of lower dimension than the radar Doppler correlation dimension. (c) 1995 American Institute of Physics.     

Variable coefficient nonlinear systems derived from an atmospheric dynamical system

Variable coefficient nonlinear systems, the Korteweg de Vries (KdV), the modified KdV (mKdV) and the nonlinear Schr?dinger (NLS) type equations, are derived from the nonlinear inviscid barotropic nondivergent vorticity equation in a beta-plane by means of the multi-scale expansion method in two different ways, with and without the so-called y-average trick. The non-auto-B\"acklund transformations are found to transform the derived variable coefficient equations to the corresponding standard KdV, mKdV and NLS equations. Thus, many possible exact solutions can be obtained by taking advantage of the known solutions of these standard equations. Further, many approximate solutions of the original model are ready to be yielded which might be applied to explain some real atmospheric phenomena, such as atmospheric blocking episodes.     

Flow reversal in a simple dynamical model of turbulence

In this Letter, we study a simple hydrodynamical model showing abrupt flow reversals at random times. For a suitable range of parameters, we show that the dynamics of flow reversal is accurately described by stochastic differential equations, where the noise represents the effect of turbulence.     

A three-dimensional refractive index model for simulation of optical wave propagation in atmospheric turbulence

Numerical modeling of optical wave propagation in atmospheric turbulence is traditionally performed with using the so-called “split”-operator method, when the influence of the propagation medium’s refractive index inhomogeneities is accounted for only within a system of infinitely narrow layers (phase screens) where phase is distorted. Commonly, under certain assumptions, such phase screens are considered as mutually statistically uncorrelated. However, in several important applications including laser target tracking, remote sensing, and atmospheric imaging, accurate optical field propagation modeling assumes upper limitations on interscreen spacing. The latter situation can be observed, for instance, in the presence of large-scale turbulent inhomogeneities or in deep turbulence conditions, where interscreen distances become comparable with turbulence outer scale and, hence, corresponding phase screens cannot be statistically uncorrelated. In this paper, we discuss correlated phase screens. The statistical characteristics of screens are calculated based on a representation of turbulent fluctuations of three-dimensional (3D) refractive index random field as a set of sequentially correlated 3D layers displaced in the wave propagation direction. The statistical characteristics of refractive index fluctuations are described in terms of the von Karman power spectrum density. In the representation of these 3D layers by corresponding phase screens, the geometrical optics approximation is used.     

大气边界层各向异性的室内模拟研究

边界层的各向异性研究对于了解实际大气的湍流特性和经典理论的适用范围均具有较大的意义。利用室内水槽实验模拟了实际大气边界层,使用小波变换方法分析了对数光强起伏谱的特征,将获得的标度指数与理论值进行比较,结果表明混合层在水平方向较为接近各向同性,而垂直方向则呈现一定的各向异性。     

大气边界层各向异性的室内模拟研究

 边界层的各向异性研究对于了解实际大气的湍流特性和经典理论的适用范围均具有较大的意义。利用室内水槽实验模拟了实际大气边界层,使用小波变换方法分析了对数光强起伏谱的特征,将获得的标度指数与理论值进行比较,结果表明混合层在水平方向较为接近各向同性,而垂直方向则呈现一定的各向异性。     

A boundary element method for the calculation of noise barrier insertion loss in the presence of atmospheric turbulence

Atmospheric turbulence is an important factor that limits the amount of attenuation a barrier can provide in the outdoor environment. It is therefore important to develop a reliable method to predict its effect on barrier performance. The boundary element method (BEM) has been shown to be a very effective technique for predicting barrier insertion loss in the absence of turbulence. This paper develops a simple and efficient modification of the BEM formulation to predict the insertion loss of a barrier in the presence of atmospheric turbulence. The modification is based on two alternative methods: (1) random realisations of log-amplitude and phase fluctuations of boundary sources and (2) de-correlation of source coherence using the mutual coherence function (MCF). An investigation into the behaviours of these two methods is carried out and simplified forms of the methods developed. Some systematic differences between the predictions from the methods are found. When incorporated into the BEM formulation, the method of random realisations and the method of MCF de-correlation provide predictions that agree well with predictions by the parabolic equation method and by the scattering cross-section method on a variety of thin barrier configurations.     

A dynamical model for gravitation

A gravitational model is proposed that relates the terrestrially measured value of the gravitational constantG directly to the density and angular velocity of the galaxy. The model indicates a constant scalar value forG within most regions of our galaxy, but predicts thatG will be different in other galaxies and zero in intergalactic space. The model offers explanations for galactic cluster stability, discrepancies in terrestrial measurements ofG, and atomic particle stability. The model also provides a causal relationship between strong, electromagnetic, weak, and gravitational interactions. The two postulates required for the proposed model reduce to two assumptions made in GRT in regions whereG is constant; these postulates are consistent with the existence of a 2.7 K blackbody background radiation.     

Parameterization of meandering phenomenon in a stable atmospheric boundary layer

Accounting for the current knowledge of the stable atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) turbulence structure and characteristics, a new formulation for the meandering parameters to be used in a Lagrangian stochastic particle turbulent diffusion model has been derived. That is, expressions for the parameters controlling the meandering oscillation frequency in low wind speed stable conditions are proposed. The classical expression for the meandering autocorrelation function, the turbulent statistical diffusion theory and ABL similarity theory are employed to estimate these parameters. In addition, this new parameterization was introduced into a particular Lagrangian stochastic particle model, which is called Iterative Langevin solution for low wind, validated with the data of Idaho National Laboratory experiments, and compared with others diffusion models. The results of this new approach are shown to agree with the measurements of Idaho experiments and also with those of the other atmospheric diffusion models. The major advance shown in this study is the formulation of the meandering parameters expressed in terms of the characteristic scales (velocity and length scales) describing the physical structure of a turbulent stable boundary layer. These similarity formulas can be used to simulate meandering enhanced diffusion of passive scalars in a low wind speed stable ABL.     

Aspect sensitivity of sound backscattering in the atmospheric boundary layer

The dependence of backscatter intensity on the inclination of a SODAR beam was measured in the nocturnal boundary layer. The aspect sensitivity was revealed, but the angular dependence was not so strong as that of radiowave backscattering in the upper atmosphere. The mechanism of the phenomenon is under discussion as well as its influence on the accuracy of SODAR measurements of C _T ² values which are very useful for air-pollution meteorology.