scholarly journals Estimation of the Turbulent Fraction in the Free Atmosphere from MST Radar Measurements

2005 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 1326-1339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Wilson ◽  
Francis Dalaudier ◽  
Francois Bertin
Keyword(s):  
Dissipation Rate ◽  
Spectral Width ◽  
Unbiased Estimation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Doppler Width ◽  
Free Atmosphere ◽  
Dissipation Rates ◽  
Sampling Volume ◽  
Radar Measurements ◽  
Width Measurements

Abstract Small-scale turbulence in the free atmosphere is known to be intermittent in space and time. The turbulence fraction of the atmosphere is a key parameter in order to evaluate the transport properties of small-scale motions and to interpret clear-air radar measurements as well. Mesosphere–stratosphere–troposphere (MST)/stratosphere–troposphere (ST) radars provide two independent methods for the estimation of energetic parameters of turbulence. First, the Doppler spectral width σ2 is related to the dissipation rate of kinetic energy εk. Second, the radar reflectivity, or C2n, relates to the dissipation rate of available potential energy εp. However, these two measures yield estimates that differ with respect to an important point. The Doppler width measurements, and related εk, are reflectivity-weighted averages. On the other hand, the reflectivity estimate is a volume-averaged quantity. The values of εp depend on both the turbulence intensity and the turbulent fraction within the radar sampling volume. Now, the two dissipation rates εp and εk are related quantities as shown by various measurements within stratified fluids (atmosphere, ocean, lakes, or laboratory). Therefore, by assuming a “canonical” value for the ratio of dissipation rates, an indirect method is proposed to infer the turbulent fraction from simultaneous radar measurements of reflectivity and Doppler broadening within a sampling volume. This method is checked by using very high resolution radar measurements (30 m and 51 s), obtained by the PROUST radar during a field campaign. The method is found to provide an unbiased estimation of the turbulent fraction, within a factor of 2 or less.

scholarly journals Turbulent diffusivity in the free atmosphere inferred from MST radar measurements: a review

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 3869-3887 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Turbulence ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Doppler Width ◽  
Free Atmosphere ◽  
Statistical Parameters ◽  
Actual Impact ◽  
Dissipation Rates ◽  
Mst Radar ◽  
Radar Measurements ◽  
Scale Turbulence

Abstract. The actual impact on vertical transport of small-scale turbulence in the free atmosphere is still a debated issue. Numerous estimates of an eddy diffusivity exist, clearly showing a lack of consensus. MST radars were, and continue to be, very useful for studying atmospheric turbulence, as radar measurements allow one to estimate the dissipation rates of energy (kinetic and potential) associated with turbulent events. The two commonly used methods for estimating the dissipation rates, from the backscattered power and from the Doppler width, are discussed. The inference methods of a local diffusivity (local meaning here "within" the turbulent patch) by using the dissipation rates are reviewed, with some of the uncertainty causes being stressed. Climatological results of turbulence diffusivity inferred from radar measurements are reviewed and compared. As revealed by high resolution MST radar measurements, atmospheric turbulence is intermittent in space and time. Recent theoretical works suggest that the effective diffusivity of such a patchy turbulence is related to statistical parameters describing the morphology of turbulent events: filling factor, lifetime and height of the patches. It thus appears that a statistical description of the turbulent patches' characteristics is required in order to evaluate and parameterize the actual impact of small-scale turbulence on transport of energy and materials. Clearly, MST radars could be an essential tool in that matter.

scholarly journals Energetics of small scale turbulence in the lower stratosphere from high resolution radar measurements

2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 945-952 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Dole ◽  
R. Wilson ◽  
F. Dalaudier ◽  
C. Sidi
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Dissipation Rate ◽  
Lower Stratosphere ◽  
Inertial Subrange ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Temperature Variance ◽  
Dissipation Rates ◽  
High Resolution Radar ◽  
Radar Measurements

Abstract. Very high resolution radar measurements were performed in the troposphere and lower stratosphere by means of the PROUST radar. The PROUST radar operates in the UHF band (961 MHz) and is located in St. Santin, France (44°39’ N, 2°12’ E). A field campaign involving high resolution balloon measurements and the PROUST radar was conducted during April 1998. Under the classical hypothesis that refractive index inhomogeneities at half radar wavelength lie within the inertial subrange, assumed to be isotropic, kinetic energy and temperature variance dissipation rates were estimated independently in the lower stratosphere. The dissipation rate of temperature variance is proportional to the dissipation rate of available potential energy. We therefore estimate the ratio of dissipation rates of potential to kinetic energy. This ratio is a key parameter of atmospheric turbulence which, in locally homogeneous and stationary conditions, is simply related to the flux Richardson number, Rf .Key words. Meteorology and atmospheric dynamics (turbulence) – Radio science (remote sensing)

Turbulent Dissipation Rate In The Boundary Layer Via UHF Wind Profiler Doppler Spectral Width Measurements

2002 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 361-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Jacoby-Koaly ◽  
B. Campistron ◽  
S. Bernard ◽  
B. Bénech ◽  
F. Ardhuin-Girard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Dissipation Rate ◽  
Spectral Width ◽  
Wind Profiler ◽  
Turbulent Dissipation ◽  
Turbulent Dissipation Rate ◽  
Width Measurements ◽  
Uhf Wind Profiler

scholarly journals PIV Measurements in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer within and above a Mature Corn Canopy. Part II: Quadrant-Hole Analysis

2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (8) ◽  
pp. 2825-2838 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Zhu ◽  
R. van Hout ◽  
J. Katz
Keyword(s):  
Dissipation Rate ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Reynolds Shear Stress ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Shear Stresses ◽  
Reynolds Stresses ◽  
Piv Measurements ◽  
Dissipation Rates ◽  
Scale Shear ◽  
Corn Canopy

Quadrant-hole (Q-H) analysis is applied to PIV data acquired just within and above a mature corn canopy. The Reynolds shear stresses, transverse components of vorticity, as well as turbulence production and cascading part of dissipation rates are conditionally sampled in each quadrant, based on stress and vorticity magnitudes. The stresses are representative of large-scale events, while the vorticity is dominated by small-scale shear. Dissipation rates (cascading energy fluxes) are evaluated by fitting −5/3 slope lines to the conditionally sampled and averaged spatial energy spectra, while the Reynolds stresses, vorticity, and production rates are calculated directly from the spatial distributions of two velocity components. The results demonstrate that sweep (quadrant 4) and ejection (quadrant 2) events are the dominant contributors to the Reynolds shear stress, consistent with previous observations. The analysis also shows a strong correlation between magnitudes of dissipation rate and vorticity. The dissipation rates and vorticity magnitudes are higher in quadrants 1 and 4, that is, when the horizontal component of the fluctuating velocity is positive, peaking in quadrant 1. Both are weakly correlated with the Reynolds stresses except for rare quadrant 1 events. However, the more frequently occurring quadrant 4 events are the largest contributors to the dissipation rate. The production rate inherently increases with increasing stress magnitude, but lacks correlation with vorticity. Quadrants 2 and 4 contribute the most to production. However, the contribution of quadrant 1 events to negative production should not be ignored above canopy. The results show a strong disconnection between small-scale- and large-scale-dominated phenomena.

Doppler spectral width studies from polar mesospheric summer echoes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikoloz Gudadze ◽  
Gunter Stober ◽  
Hubert Luce ◽  
Jorge Luis Chau
Keyword(s):  
Energy Dissipation ◽  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Turbulent Kinetic Energy ◽  
Spectral Width ◽  
Target Area ◽  
Fundamental Parameter ◽  
Dissipation Rates ◽  
Summer Echoes ◽  
Width Measurements ◽  
Fossil Turbulence

<p>Investigation of turbulence in the polar mesopause is essential for a better understanding of dynamical or mixing processes in the region. Polar Mesospheric Summer Echoes (PMSEs), occurring at mesopause altitudes during the summer season, are known to be a result of turbulence-induced fluctuations in the refractive index. The presence of ice particles controls and reduce the free-electron diffusivity in D region plasma, which in turn leads to complex, strong radar echoes at very high frequencies.</p><p>Often, Doppler spectral width of radar measurements are associated with the strength of turbulence in the target area and traditionally used to estimate turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates, a fundamental parameter of the turbulence processes. Besides the cooling of summer mesopause region induced by GW drag, the turbulence produced by GW breaking contributes to the total energy budget due to release of turbulent kinetic energy to heat. We use PMSE spectral width measurements observed by Middle Atmosphere Alomar Radar System (MAARSY) during summer of 2016 to study their summer temporal mean profiles as well as temporal evolution and connection to the atmospheric turbulence at PMSE altitudes - 80 and 90 km. The current theoretical models suggest that the radar reflectivity should correlate to the strength of the turbulence; however, such a relation is mainly observed for the weaker PMSEs. The mean summer behaviour of estimated turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates shows an increase from lower altitudes up to 90 km. It should be noticed that spectral width measurements contain additional broadening rather than turbulence, so derived energy dissipation rates are “upper values” than expected from pure turbulence. The results are still slightly lower than those known from climatology obtained from rocket soundings, mostly at altitudes close to the maximum occurrence of PMSE, 86-87 km.</p><p>We discuss a possible consequence of spectral width measurements under strong PMSEs. In such conditions, the strength of the echo does not correlate with the turbulence intensity, and the observed spectral width is weaker. However, the uniform distribution of spectral width values throughout the echo power is expected from the present theoretical understandings. Based on previous studies, strong PMSEs can also be observed during fossil turbulence. The interpretation of connection the spectral with measurements under fossil turbulence with the turbulence energy dissipation rates and the possibility of using PMSEs for the turbulence studies will be discussed.</p>

scholarly journals Correlation between small-scale velocity and scalar fluctuations in a turbulent channel flow

2009 ◽  
Vol 627 ◽  
pp. 1-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
HIROYUKI ABE ◽  
ROBERT ANTHONY ANTONIA ◽  
HIROSHI KAWAMURA
Keyword(s):  
Strain Rate ◽  
Channel Flow ◽  
Dissipation Rate ◽  
Compressive Strain ◽  
Outer Region ◽  
Turbulent Channel Flow ◽  
Scalar Fields ◽  
Scalar Dissipation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Scalar Dissipation Rate

Direct numerical simulations of a turbulent channel flow with passive scalar transport are used to examine the relationship between small-scale velocity and scalar fields. The Reynolds number based on the friction velocity and the channel half-width is equal to 180, 395 and 640, and the molecular Prandtl number is 0.71. The focus is on the interrelationship between the components of the vorticity vector and those of the scalar derivative vector. Near the wall, there is close similarity between different components of the two vectors due to the almost perfect correspondence between the momentum and thermal streaks. With increasing distance from the wall, the magnitudes of the correlations become smaller but remain non-negligible everywhere in the channel owing to the presence of internal shear and scalar layers in the inner region and the backs of the large-scale motions in the outer region. The topology of the scalar dissipation rate, which is important for small-scale scalar mixing, is shown to be associated with the organized structures. The most preferential orientation of the scalar dissipation rate is the direction of the mean strain rate near the wall and that of the fluctuating compressive strain rate in the outer region. The latter region has many characteristics in common with several turbulent flows; viz. the dominant structures are sheetlike in form and better correlated with the energy dissipation rate than the enstrophy.

scholarly journals High resolution observations of spectral width features associatedwith ULF wave signatures in artificial HF radar backscatter

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Wright ◽  
T. K. Yeoman ◽  
L. J. Baddeley ◽  
J. A. Davies ◽  
R. S. Dhillon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Plasma Source ◽  
Spectral Width ◽  
Hf Radar ◽  
Mhd Waves ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Ulf Waves ◽  
Source Population ◽  
Radar Backscatter ◽  
Field Lines

Abstract. The EISCAT high power heating facility at Tromsø, northern Norway, has been utilised to generate artificial radar backscatter in the fields of view of the CUTLASS HF radars. It has been demonstrated that this technique offers a means of making very accurate and high resolution observations of naturally occurring ULF waves. During such experiments, the usually narrow radar spectral widths associated with artificial irregularities increase at times when small scale-sized (high m-number) ULF waves are observed. Possible mechanisms by which these particle-driven high-m waves may modify the observed spectral widths have been investigated. The results are found to be consistent with Pc1 (ion-cyclotron) wave activity, causing aliasing of the radar spectra, in agreement with previous modelling work. The observations also support recent suggestions that Pc1 waves may be modulated by the action of longer period ULF standing waves, which are simultaneously detected on the magnetospheric field lines. Drifting ring current protons with energies of ∼ 10keV are indicated as a common plasma source population for both wave types. Key words. Magnetospheric physics (MHD waves and instabilities) – Space plasma physics (wave-particle interactions) – Ionosphere (active experiments)

Observations of Small-Scale Turbulence and Energy Dissipation Rates in the Cloudy Boundary Layer

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 1451-1466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holger Siebert ◽  
Katrin Lehmann ◽  
Manfred Wendisch
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Energy Dissipation ◽  
Wind Velocity ◽  
Turbulence Theory ◽  
Horizontal Wind ◽  
Inertial Subrange ◽  
Intermittent Flow ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Dissipation Rates ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract Tethered balloon–borne measurements with a resolution in the order of 10 cm in a cloudy boundary layer are presented. Two examples sampled under different conditions concerning the clouds' stage of life are discussed. The hypothesis tested here is that basic ideas of classical turbulence theory in boundary layer clouds are valid even to the decimeter scale. Power spectral densities S( f ) of air temperature, liquid water content, and wind velocity components show an inertial subrange behavior down to ≈20 cm. The mean energy dissipation rates are ∼10−3 m2 s−3 for both datasets. Estimated Taylor Reynolds numbers (Reλ) are ∼104, which indicates the turbulence is fully developed. The ratios between longitudinal and transversal S( f ) converge to a value close to 4/3, which is predicted by classical turbulence theory for local isotropic conditions. Probability density functions (PDFs) of wind velocity increments Δu are derived. The PDFs show significant deviations from a Gaussian distribution with longer tails typical for an intermittent flow. Local energy dissipation rates ɛτ are derived from subsequences with a duration of τ = 1 s. With a mean horizontal wind velocity of 8 m s−1, τ corresponds to a spatial scale of 8 m. The PDFs of ɛτ can be well approximated with a lognormal distribution that agrees with classical theory. Maximum values of ɛτ ≈ 10−1 m2 s−3 are found in the analyzed clouds. The consequences of this wide range of ɛτ values for particle–turbulence interaction are discussed.

scholarly journals A statistical comparison of SuperDARN spectral width boundaries and DMSP particle precipitation boundaries in the morning sector ionosphere

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 733-743 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Chisham ◽  
M. P. Freeman ◽  
T. Sotirelis ◽  
R. A. Greenwald ◽  
M. Lester ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Flux ◽  
Spectral Width ◽  
Incident Electron Energy ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Closed Field ◽  
Particle Precipitation ◽  
Ionospheric Conductivity ◽  
Morning Sector ◽  
Latitudinal Difference ◽  
Good Proxy

Abstract. Determining reliable proxies for the ionospheric signature of the open-closed field line boundary (OCB) is crucial for making accurate ionospheric measurements of many magnetospheric processes (e.g. magnetic reconnection). This study compares the latitudes of Spectral Width Boundaries (SWBs), identified in the morning sector ionosphere using the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN), with Particle Precipitation Boundaries (PPBs) determined using the low-altitude Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) spacecraft, in order to determine whether the SWB represents a good proxy for the ionospheric projection of the OCB. The latitudes of SWBs and PPBs were identified using automated algorithms applied to 5 years (1997-2001) of data measured in the 00:00-12:00 Magnetic Local Time (MLT) range. A latitudinal difference was measured between each PPB and the nearest SWB within a ±10min Universal Time (UT) window and within a ±1h MLT window. The results show that the SWB represents a good proxy for the OCB close to midnight (~00:00-02:00 MLT) and noon (~08:00-12:00 MLT), but is located some distance (~2°-4°) equatorward of the OCB across much of the morning sector ionosphere (~02:00-08:00 MLT). On the basis of this and other studies we deduce that the SWB is correlated with the poleward boundary of auroral emissions in the Lyman-Birge-Hopfield ``Long" (LBHL) UV emission range and hence, that spectral width is inversely correlated with the energy flux of precipitating electrons. We further conclude that the combination of two factors may explain the spatial distribution of spectral width values in the polar ionospheres. The small-scale structure of the convection electric field leads to an enhancement in spectral width in regions close to the OCB, whereas increases in ionospheric conductivity (relating to the level of incident electron energy flux) lead to a reduction in spectral width in regions just equatorward of the OCB.

scholarly journals Cloud droplet diffusional growth in homogeneous isotropic turbulence: bin microphysics versus Lagrangian superdroplet simulations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wojciech W. Grabowski ◽  
Lois Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
Isotropic Turbulence ◽  
Spectral Width ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Computational Domain ◽  
Homogeneous Isotropic Turbulence ◽  
Diffusional Growth ◽  
Droplet Concentration ◽  
Bin Microphysics

Abstract. Increase of the spectral width of initially monodisperse population of cloud droplets in homogeneous isotropic turbulence is investigated applying a finite-difference fluid flow model combined with either Eulerian bin microphysics or Lagrangian particle-based scheme. The turbulence is forced applying a variant of the so-called linear forcing method that maintains the mean turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and the TKE partitioning between velocity components. The latter is important for maintaining the quasi-steady forcing of the supersaturation fluctuations that drive the increase of the spectral width. We apply a large computational domain, 643 m3, one of the domains considered in Thomas et al. (2020). The simulations apply 1 m grid length and are in the spirit of the implicit large eddy simulation (ILES), that is, with explicit small-scale dissipation provided by the model numerics. This is in contrast to the scaled-up direct numerical simulation (DNS) applied in Thomas et al. (2020). Two TKE intensities and three different droplet concentrations are considered. Analytic solutions derived in Sardina et al. (2015), valid for the case when the turbulence time scale is much larger than the droplet phase relaxation time scale, are used to guide the comparison between the two microphysics simulation techniques. The Lagrangian approach reproduces the scalings relatively well. Representing the spectral width increase in time is more challenging for the bin microphysics because appropriately high resolution in the bin space is needed. The bin width of 0.5 μm is only sufficient for the lowest droplet concentration, 26 cm−3. For the highest droplet concentration, 650 cm−3, even an order of magnitude smaller bin size is not sufficient. The scalings are not expected to be valid for the lowest droplet concentration and the high TKE case, and the two microphysics schemes represent similar departures. Finally, because the fluid flow is the same for all simulations featuring either low or high TKE, one can compare point-by-point simulation results. Such a comparison shows very close temperature and water vapor point-by-point values across the computational domain, and larger differences between simulated mean droplet radii and spectral width. The latter are explained by fundamental differences in the two simulation methodologies, numerical diffusion in the Eulerian bin approach and relatively small number of Lagrangian particles that are used in the particle-based microphysics.

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