Method of using kites to carry tow nets in the upper air for sampling migrating insects and its application to radar entomology

1984 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Farrow ◽  
J. E. Dowse

AbstractInsects migrating above the surface boundary layer were efficiently and economically sampled over long periods using a large diameter tow net suspended beneath a kite. In a series of trials in Australia, sequential samples were obtained by day and night at predetermined altitudes, in the range 50–500 m. The net was raised and lowered independently of the kite, so that when conditions were calm in the lower atmosphere the kite could remain aloft in the geostrophic airflow. Potential contamination of insects flying below the sampling height was minimised during net ascent, by reducing the airflow through the net. A radio-operated net-closing and releasing mechanism prevented contamination during the free fall of the net. The catch was converted to absolute values of aerial density and migration rate or flux. Aerial sampling was originally developed to identify upper air migrants under observation by the CSIRO entomological radar and to provide quantitative measurements of those species too small to be individually detected by radar. The technique was subsequently operated independently of radar to quantify microinsect migrations, but not those of macroinsects because of their relatively low catch rate.

1983 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 567-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. A. Drake ◽  
R. A. Farrow

AbstractNight migrations of insects above the surface boundary layer were studied by direct observations with an entomological radar, and by direct aerial sampling with a kite-borne net, in an area in New South Wales inhabited by large fledging populations of Chortoicetes terminifera (Wlk.). The aerial catches and radar echo-modulation observations suggested that the majority of migrants detected by the radar were locusts, and this conclusion was supported indirectly by light-trap catches and by observations of take–off at dusk. Night flights of locusts began at dusk with a mass take-off and continued on a diminishing scale until about midnight. Displacements were all approximately downwind and to the north, under the influence of a southerly airflow which prevailed throughout the six-day study period. A quantitative radar observation procedure was used to estimate locust aerial densities and migration rates, and to observe the variations of these quantities with height and time; typical and extreme values for all the principal migration quantities are presented. The flight paths of the locusts were estimated from radar observations of target tracks, and probable source areas at distances of up to 200 km to the south were identified; a major overflight which probably originated 150 km away was detected on one occasion. Northward movements of C. terminifera during anticyclonic conditions may help to explain how populations are redistributed in the periods between the long-range southward invasion movements for which this species is well-known.


Author(s):  
Yagya Dutta Dwivedi ◽  
Vasishta Bhargava Nukala ◽  
Satya Prasad Maddula ◽  
Kiran Nair

Abstract Atmospheric turbulence is an unsteady phenomenon found in nature and plays significance role in predicting natural events and life prediction of structures. In this work, turbulence in surface boundary layer has been studied through empirical methods. Computer simulation of Von Karman, Kaimal methods were evaluated for different surface roughness and for low (1%), medium (10%) and high (50%) turbulence intensities. Instantaneous values of one minute time series for longitudinal turbulent wind at mean wind speed of 12 m/s using both spectra showed strong correlation in validation trends. Influence of integral length scales on turbulence kinetic energy production at different heights is illustrated. Time series for mean wind speed of 12 m/s with surface roughness value of 0.05 m have shown that variance for longitudinal, lateral and vertical velocity components were different and found to be anisotropic. Wind speed power spectral density from Davenport and Simiu profiles have also been calculated at surface roughness of 0.05 m and compared with k−1 and k−3 slopes for Kolmogorov k−5/3 law in inertial sub-range and k−7 in viscous dissipation range. At high frequencies, logarithmic slope of Kolmogorov −5/3rd law agreed well with Davenport, Harris, Simiu and Solari spectra than at low frequencies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils Paul van Hinsberg

Abstract The aerodynamics of smooth and slightly rough prisms with square cross-sections and sharp edges is investigated through wind tunnel experiments. Mean and fluctuating forces, the mean pitch moment, Strouhal numbers, the mean surface pressures and the mean wake profiles in the mid-span cross-section of the prism are recorded simultaneously for Reynolds numbers between 1$$\times$$ × 10$$^{5}$$ 5 $$\le$$ ≤ Re$$_{D}$$ D $$\le$$ ≤ 1$$\times$$ × 10$$^{7}$$ 7 . For the smooth prism with $$k_s$$ k s /D = 4$$\times$$ × 10$$^{-5}$$ - 5 , tests were performed at three angles of incidence, i.e. $$\alpha$$ α = 0$$^{\circ }$$ ∘ , −22.5$$^{\circ }$$ ∘ and −45$$^{\circ }$$ ∘ , whereas only both “symmetric” angles were studied for its slightly rough counterpart with $$k_s$$ k s /D = 1$$\times$$ × 10$$^{-3}$$ - 3 . First-time experimental proof is given that, within the accuracy of the data, no significant variation with Reynolds number occurs for all mean and fluctuating aerodynamic coefficients of smooth square prisms up to Reynolds numbers as high as $$\mathcal {O}$$ O (10$$^{7}$$ 7 ). This Reynolds-number independent behaviour applies to the Strouhal number and the wake profile as well. In contrast to what is known from square prisms with rounded edges and circular cylinders, an increase in surface roughness height by a factor 25 on the current sharp-edged square prism does not lead to any notable effects on the surface boundary layer and thus on the prism’s aerodynamics. For both prisms, distinct changes in the aerostatics between the various angles of incidence are seen to take place though. Graphic abstract


2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen E. Belcher ◽  
Alan L. M. Grant ◽  
Kirsty E. Hanley ◽  
Baylor Fox-Kemper ◽  
Luke Van Roekel ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Wagner ◽  
Andre Souza ◽  
Adeline Hillier ◽  
Ali Ramadhan ◽  
Raffaele Ferrari

<p>Parameterizations of turbulent mixing in the ocean surface boundary layer (OSBL) are key Earth System Model (ESM) components that modulate the communication of heat and carbon between the atmosphere and ocean interior. OSBL turbulence parameterizations are formulated in terms of unknown free parameters estimated from observational or synthetic data. In this work we describe the development and use of a synthetic dataset called the “LESbrary” generated by a large number of idealized, high-fidelity, limited-area large eddy simulations (LES) of OSBL turbulent mixing. We describe how the LESbrary design leverages a detailed understanding of OSBL conditions derived from observations and large scale models to span the range of realistically diverse physical scenarios. The result is a diverse library of well-characterized “synthetic observations” that can be readily assimilated for the calibration of realistic OSBL parameterizations in isolation from other ESM model components. We apply LESbrary data to calibrate free parameters, develop prior estimates of parameter uncertainty, and evaluate model errors in two OSBL parameterizations for use in predictive ESMs.</p>


Author(s):  
Tobias Kukulka ◽  
Todd Thoman

AbstractDispersion processes in the ocean surface boundary layer (OSBL) determine marine material distributions such as those of plankton and pollutants. Sheared velocities drive shear dispersion, which is traditionally assumed to be due to mean horizontal currents that decrease from the surface. However, OSBL turbulence supports along-wind jets; located in near-surface convergence and downwelling regions, such turbulent jets contain strong local shear. Through wind-driven idealized and large eddy simulation (LES) models of the OSBL, this study examines the role of turbulent along-wind jets in dispersing material. In the idealized model, turbulent jets are generated by prescribed cellular flow with surface convergence and associated downwelling regions. Numeric and analytic model solutions reveal that horizontal jets substantially contribute to along-wind dispersion for sufficiently strong cellular flows and exceed contributions due to vertical mean shear for buoyant surface-trapped material. However, surface convergence regions also accumulate surface-trapped material, reducing shear dispersion by jets. Turbulence resolving LES results of a coastal depth-limited ocean agree qualitatively with the idealized model and reveal long-lived coherent jet structures that are necessary for effective jet dispersion. These coastal results indicate substantial jet contributions to along-wind dispersion. However, jet dispersion is likely less effective in the open ocean because jets are shorter lived, less organized, and distorted due to spiraling Ekman currents.


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