scholarly journals Continuous atmospheric boundary layer observations in the coastal urban area of Barcelona during SAPUSS

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4983-4996 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Pandolfi ◽  
G. Martucci ◽  
X. Querol ◽  
A. Alastuey ◽  
F. Wilsenack ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Urban Area ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Layer Structure ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Atmospheric Stability ◽  
Surface Mixed Layer ◽  
Backscatter Coefficient ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Aerosol Backscatter

Abstract. Continuous measurements of surface mixed layer (SML), decoupled residual/convective layer (DRCL) and aerosol backscatter coefficient were performed within the Barcelona (Spain) boundary layer from September to October 2010 (30 days) in the framework of the SAPUSS (Solving Aerosol Problems by Using Synergistic Strategies) field campaign. Two near-infrared ceilometers (Jenoptik CHM15K), vertically and horizontally probing (only vertical profiles are herein discussed), were deployed. Ceilometer-based DRCLs (1761 ± 363 m a.g.l.) averaged over the campaign duration were twice as high as the mean SML (904 ± 273 m a.g.l.). Both DRCL and SML showed a marked SML diurnal cycle. Ceilometer data were compared with potential temperature profiles measured by daily radiosounding (twice a day, midnight and midday) to interpret the boundary layer structure in the coastal urban area of Barcelona. The overall agreement (R2 = 0.80) between the ceilometer-retrieved and radiosounding-based SML heights (h) revealed overestimation of the SML by the ceilometer (Δh=145 ± 145 m). After separating the data in accordance with different atmospheric scenarios, the lowest SML (736 ± 183 m) and DRCL (1573 ± 428 m) were recorded during warm North African (NAF) advected air mass. By contrast, higher SML and DRCL were observed during stagnant Regional (REG) (911 ± 234 m and 1769 ± 314 m, respectively) and cold Atlantic (ATL) (965 ± 222 m and 1878 ± 290 m, respectively) air masses. In addition to being the lowest, the SML during the NAF scenario frequently showed a flat upper boundary throughout the day possibly because of the strong winds from the Mediterranean Sea limiting the midday SML convective growth. The mean backscatter coefficients were calculated at two selected heights representative of middle and top SML portions, i.e. β500 = 0.59 ± 0.45 Mm−1 sr−1 and β800 = 0.87 ± 0.68 Mm−1 sr−1 at 500 m and 800 m a.g.l., respectively. The highest backscatter coefficients were observed during NAF (β500 = 0.77 ± 0.57 Mm−1 sr−1) when compared with ATL (β500 = 0.51 ± 0.44 Mm−1 sr−1) and REG (β500 = 0.64 ± 0.39 Mm−1 sr−1). The relationship between the vertical change in backscatter coefficient and atmospheric stability (∂θ/∂z) was investigated in the first 3000 m a.g.l., aiming to study how the unstable, stable or neutral atmospheric conditions of the atmosphere alter the distribution of aerosol backscatter with height over Barcelona. A positive correlation between unstable conditions and enhanced backscatter and vice versa was found.

scholarly journals Continuous atmospheric boundary layer observations in the coastal urban area of Barcelona, Spain

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 345-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Pandolfi ◽  
G. Martucci ◽  
X. Querol ◽  
A. Alastuey ◽  
F. Wilsenack ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Urban Area ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Layer Structure ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Atmospheric Stability ◽  
Surface Mixed Layer ◽  
Backscatter Coefficient ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Strong Winds

Abstract. Continuous measurements of Surface Mixed Layer (SML), Decoupled Residual/Convective Layer (DRCL) and aerosol backscatter coefficient were performed within the Barcelona (NE Spain) boundary layer from September to October 2010 (30 days) in the framework of the SAPUSS (Solving Aerosol Problems Using Synergistic Strategies) field campaign. Two near-infrared ceilometers (Jenoptik CHM15K) vertically and horizontally-probing (only vertical profiles are discussed) were deployed during SAPUSS and compared with potential temperature profiles measured by daily radiosounding (midnight and midday) to interpret the boundary layer structure in the urban area of Barcelona. Ceilometer-based DRCL (1761±363 m a.g.l.) averaged over the campaign duration were twice as high as the mean SML (904±273 m a.g.l.) with a marked SML diurnal cycle. The overall agreement between the ceilometer-retrieved and radiosounding-based SML heights (R2=0.8) revealed overestimation of the SML by the ceilometer (Δh=145±145 m). After separating the data in accordance with different atmospheric scenarios, the lowest SML (736±183 m) and DRCL (1573±428 m) were recorded during warm North African (NAF) advected air mass. By contrast, higher SML and DRCL were observed during stagnant regional (REG) (911±234 m and 1769±314 m, respectively) and cold Atlantic (ATL) (965±222 m and 1878±290 m, respectively) air masses. The SML during the NAF scenario frequently showed a flat upper boundary throughout the day because of strong winds from the Mediterranean Sea that limit the midday SML convective growth observed during ATL and REG scenarios. The mean backscatter coefficients were calculated at two selected heights as representative of middle and top SML portions, i.e. β500=0.59±0.45 M m−1 sr−1 and β800=0.87±0.68 M m−1 sr−1 at 500 m and 800 m a.g.l., respectively. The highest backscatter coefficients were observed during NAF (β500=0.77±0.57 M m−1 sr−1) when compared with ATL (β500= 0.51±0.44 M m−1 sr−1) and REG (β500= 0.64±0.39 M m−1 sr−1). The relationship between the vertical change in backscatter coefficient and atmospheric stability (∂θ/∂z) was investigated in the first 3000 m a.g.l., demonstrating a positive correlation between unstable conditions and enhanced backscatter and vice versa.

Prediction of compressible turbulent boundary layer via a symmetry-based length model

2018 ◽  
Vol 857 ◽  
pp. 449-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen-Su She ◽  
Hong-Yue Zou ◽  
Meng-Juan Xiao ◽  
Xi Chen ◽  
Fazle Hussain
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Turbulent Boundary Layer ◽  
Layer Structure ◽  
Analytic Form ◽  
Algebraic Model ◽  
Length Function ◽  
Turbulent Heat Transfer ◽  
Turbulent Heat ◽  
Reynolds Analogy ◽  
The Mean

A recently developed symmetry-based theory is extended to derive an algebraic model for compressible turbulent boundary layers (CTBL) – predicting mean profiles of velocity, temperature and density – valid from incompressible to hypersonic flow regimes, thus achieving a Mach number ($Ma$) invariant description. The theory leads to a multi-layer analytic form of a stress length function which yields a closure of the mean momentum equation. A generalized Reynolds analogy is then employed to predict the turbulent heat transfer. The mean profiles and the friction coefficient are compared with direct numerical simulations of CTBL for a range of$Ma$from 0 (e.g. incompressible) to 6.0 (e.g. hypersonic), with an accuracy notably superior to popular current models such as Baldwin–Lomax and Spalart–Allmaras models. Further analysis shows that the modification is due to an improved eddy viscosity function compared to competing models. The results confirm the validity of our$Ma$-invariant stress length function and suggest the path for developing turbulent boundary layer models which incorporate the multi-layer structure.

How is the marine atmospheric boundary layer turbulence organized in the trades ?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre-Etienne Brilouet ◽  
Marie Lothon ◽  
Sandrine Bony
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Atmospheric Boundary Layer ◽  
Vertical Velocity ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Layer Structure ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Surface Wind ◽  
Cloud Amount ◽  
Velocity Spectrum ◽  
Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer

<p>Tradewind clouds can exhibit a wide diversity of mesoscale organizations, and the turbulence of marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) can exhibit coherent structures and mesoscale circulations. One of the objectives of the EUREC4A (Elucidating the role of cloud-circulation coupling in climate) field experiment was to better understand the tight interplay between the mesoscale organization of clouds, boundary-layer processes, and the large-scale environment.</p><p>During the experiment, that took place East of Barbados over the Western Tropical Atlantic Ocean in Jan-Feb 2020, the French ATR-42 research aircraft was devoted to the characterization of the cloud amount and of the subcoud layer structure. <span>During its 17 research flights, </span><span>it</span> <span>sampled a </span><span>large diversity of large scale conditions and </span><span>cloud patterns</span><span>. </span>Multiple sensors onboard t<span>he aircraft measure</span><span>d</span> <span>high-frequency </span><span>fluctuations of potential temperature, water vapour mixing ratio and wind , allowing </span><span>for </span><span>an extensive characterization </span><span> of</span><span> the turbulence </span><span>within</span><span> the subcloud layer. </span> <span>A </span><span>quality-controled and calibrated turbulence data</span><span>set</span><span> was produced </span><span>on the basis of these measurements</span><span>, which is now </span><span> available on the EUREC4A AERIS data portal.</span></p><p><span>The </span><span>MABL </span><span>turbulent </span><span>structure i</span><span>s</span><span> studied </span><span>using this dataset, </span><span>through a spectral analysis </span><span>of the vertical velocity</span><span>. Vertical profiles of characteristic length scales reveal a non-isotropic structure with a stretching of the eddies along the mean wind. The organization strength of the turbulent field is also explored </span><span>by defining</span><span> a diagnostic based on the shape of the vertical velocity spectrum. </span><span>The </span><span>structure and the degree of organization of the </span><span>subcloud layer </span><span>are</span><span> characterized for </span><span> different type</span><span>s</span><span> of mesoscale </span><span>convective </span><span>pattern </span><span>and </span><span>as a function of</span><span> the large-scale environment, </span><span>including</span> <span>near-</span><span>surface wind </span><span>and</span> <span>lower-</span><span>tropospheric</span><span> stability conditions.</span></p><p> </p>

scholarly journals Wind Turbulence Statistics of the Atmospheric Inertial Sublayer under Near-Neutral Conditions

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1087
Author(s):  
Eslam Reda Lotfy ◽  
Zambri Harun
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Atmospheric Stability ◽  
Turbulent Velocity ◽  
Stability Conditions ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Law Of The Wall ◽  
Turbulent Statistics ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Law ◽  
Velocity Variances

The inertial sublayer comprises a considerable and critical portion of the turbulent atmospheric boundary layer. The mean windward velocity profile is described comprehensively by the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory, which is equivalent to the logarithmic law of the wall in the wind tunnel boundary layer. Similar logarithmic relations have been recently proposed to correlate turbulent velocity variances with height based on Townsend’s attached-eddy theory. The theory is particularly valid for high Reynolds-number flows, for example, atmospheric flow. However, the correlations have not been thoroughly examined, and a well-established model cannot be reached for all turbulent variances similar to the law of the wall of the mean-velocity. Moreover, the effect of atmospheric thermal condition on Townsend’s model has not been determined. In this research, we examined a dataset of free wind flow under a near-neutral range of atmospheric stability conditions. The results of the mean velocity reproduce the law of the wall with a slope of 2.45 and intercept of −13.5. The turbulent velocity variances were fitted by logarithmic profiles consistent with those in the literature. The windward and crosswind velocity variances obtained the average slopes of −1.3 and −1.7, respectively. The slopes and intercepts generally increased away from the neutral state. Meanwhile, the vertical velocity and temperature variances reached the ground-level values of 1.6 and 7.8, respectively, under the neutral condition. The authors expect this article to be a groundwork for a general model on the vertical profiles of turbulent statistics under all atmospheric stability conditions.

scholarly journals Inter-comparison of lidar and ceilometer retrievals for aerosol and Planetary Boundary Layer profiling over Athens, Greece

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Tsaknakis ◽  
A. Papayannis ◽  
P. Kokkalis ◽  
V. Amiridis ◽  
H. D. Kambezidis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Planetary Boundary Layer ◽  
Layer Structure ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Radiosonde Data ◽  
Backscatter Coefficient ◽  
Lidar System ◽  
Height Range ◽  
Tropospheric Aerosol ◽  
Filter Radiometer

Abstract. This study presents an inter-comparison of two active remote sensors (lidar and ceilometer) in determining the structure of the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) and in retrieving tropospheric aerosol vertical profiles over Athens, Greece. This inter-comparison was performed under various strongly different aerosol concentrations (urban air pollution, biomass burning and Saharan dust event), implementing two different lidar systems (one portable Raymetrics S.A. lidar system running at 355 nm and one multi-wavelength Raman lidar system running at 355 nm, 532 nm and 1064 nm) and one CL31 Vaisala S.A. ceilometer (running at 910 nm). To convert the ceilometer data to data having the same wavelengths as those from the lidar, the backscatter-related Ångström exponent was estimated using ultraviolet multi-filter radiometer (UV-MFR) data. The inter-comparison was based on two parameters: the mixing layer structure and height determined by the presence of the suspended aerosols and the aerosol backscatter coefficient. Additionally, radiosonde data were used to derive the PBL height. In general a good agreement is found between the ceilometer and the lidar techniques in both inter-compared parameters in the height range from 500 m to 5000 m, while the limitations of each instrument are also examined.

scholarly journals An Assessment of Pseudo-Operational Ground-Based Light Detection and Ranging Sensors to Determine the Boundary-Layer Structure in the Coastal Atmosphere

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conor Milroy ◽  
Giovanni Martucci ◽  
Simone Lolli ◽  
Sophie Loaec ◽  
Laurent Sauvage ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Layer Structure ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Boundary Layer Structure ◽  
Remote Sensors ◽  
Laser Sensors ◽  
In Situ Data ◽  
Decoupled Structure ◽  
Aerosol Backscatter

Twenty-one cases of boundary-layer structure were retrieved by three co-located remote sensors, One LIDAR and two ceilometers at the coastal site of Mace Head, Ireland. Data were collected during the ICOS field campaign held at the GAW Atmospheric Station of Mace Head, Ireland, from 8th to 28th of June, 2009. The study is a two-step investigation of the BL structure based on (i) the intercomparison of the backscatter profiles from the three laser sensors, namely the Leosphere ALS300 LIDAR, the Vaisala CL31 ceilometer and the Jenoptik CHM15K ceilometer; (ii) and the comparison of the backscatter profiles with twenty-three radiosoundings performed during the period from the 8th to the 15th of June, 2009. The sensor-independent Temporal Height-Tracking algorithm was applied to the backscatter profiles as retrieved by each instrument to determine the decoupled structure of the BL over Mace Head. The LIDAR and ceilometers-retrieved BL heights were compared to the radiosoundings temperature profiles. The comparison between the remote and the in-situ data proved the existence of the inherent link between temperature and aerosol backscatter profiles and opened at future studies focusing on the further assessment of LIDAR-ceilometer comparison.

scholarly journals Influence of boundary layer structure on air quality in Beijing: Long-term analysis based on self-organizing maps

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiheng Liao ◽  
Jiaren Sun ◽  
Jialin Yao ◽  
Li Liu ◽  
Haowen Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Learning Algorithm ◽  
Layer Structure ◽  
Surface Wind ◽  
Atmospheric Stability ◽  
Stable Condition ◽  
Self Organizing Maps ◽  
Self Organizing

Abstract. Self-organizing maps (SOMs; a feather-extracting technique based on an unsupervised machine learning algorithm) are used to classify the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) types over Beijing by detecting topological relationships among the 4-yr (2013–2016) radiosonde profiles. The resulting ABL types are then examined in relation to air quality, including surface pollutant concentrations and columnar aerosol properties, to understand the regulating effects of different ABL structures on Beijing's air quality. The SOM provides nine ABL types (i.e., SOM nodes), and each type is characterized by distinct dynamic and thermodynamic conditions. On average, SO2, NO2, CO, PM10 and PM2.5 increase 120–220 % from a near neutral (i.e., node 1) to strong stable condition (i.e., node 9). The ABL controls on diurnal cycles of pollutants are as follows: (1) elevated inversion enhances the afternoon baseline; and (2) surface inversion improves the evening increment. Comparing the CO / SO2 ratios for the different ABL types demonstrates that the local contribution increases with enhanced static stability near the ground, and it is the stable ABL stratification rather than weak surface wind that confines the regional contribution. Due to regional transport, node 3 (dominated by elevated inversion with high relative humidity) corresponds to the most severe columnar aerosol pollution, characterized by the highest optical depth (1.22) and volume concentration (0.30 μm3/μm2). The larger aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) within the atmosphere (> 60 W/m2) in nodes 3, 6 and 9 is likely to strengthen the atmospheric stability and thus induce a positive feedback loop for causing high surface pollution. Analysis of the typical pollution period suggests that the ABL types are the primary drivers of day-to-day variations in Beijing's air quality. Assuming a fixed relationship between ABL type and PM2.5 loading for different years, the relative (absolute) contribution of the ABL anomaly to elevated PM2.5 levels are estimated to be 65.8 % (46.2 μg/m3) during January 2013, 46.7 % (20.2 μg/m,sup>3) during December 2015, and 94.6 % (35.3 μg/m3) during December 2016.

scholarly journals Canadian Biomass Burning Aerosol Properties Modification during a Long-Ranged Event on August 2018

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (18) ◽  
pp. 5442
Author(s):  
Christina-Anna Papanikolaou ◽  
Elina Giannakaki ◽  
Alexandros Papayannis ◽  
Maria Mylonaki ◽  
Ourania Soupiona
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Satellite Observation ◽  
Depolarization Ratio ◽  
Marine Aerosols ◽  
Backscatter Coefficient ◽  
Biomass Burning Aerosol ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Aerosol Backscatter

The aim of this paper is to study the spatio-temporal evolution of a long-lasting Canadian biomass burning event that affected Europe in August 2018. The event produced biomass burning aerosol layers which were observed during their transport from Canada to Europe from the 16 to the 26 August 2018 using active remote sensing data from the space-borne system Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO). The total number of aerosol layers detected was 745 of which 42% were identified as pure biomass burning. The remaining 58% were attributed to smoke mixed with: polluted dust (34%), clean continental (10%), polluted continental (5%), desert dust (6%) or marine aerosols (3%). In this study, smoke layers, pure and mixed ones, were observed by the CALIPSO satellite from 0.8 and up to 9.6 km height above mean sea level (amsl.). The mean altitude of these layers was found between 2.1 and 5.2 km amsl. The Ångström exponent, relevant to the aerosol backscatter coefficient (532/1064 nm), ranged between 0.9 and 1.5, indicating aerosols of different sizes. The mean linear particle depolarization ratio at 532 nm for pure biomass burning aerosols was found equal to 0.05 ± 0.04, indicating near spherical aerosols. We also observed that, in case of no aerosol mixing, the sphericity of pure smoke aerosols does not change during the air mass transportation (0.05–0.06). On the contrary, when the smoke is mixed with dessert dust the mean linear particle depolarization ratio may reach values up to 0.20 ± 0.04, especially close to the African continent (Region 4).

scholarly journals Mean dynamics of transitional boundary-layer flow

2011 ◽  
Vol 682 ◽  
pp. 617-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. KLEWICKI ◽  
R. EBNER ◽  
X. WU
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Reynolds Stress ◽  
Boundary Layer Flow ◽  
Layer Structure ◽  
Momentum Equation ◽  
Stress Profile ◽  
Transitional Regime ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Layer Flow

The dynamical mechanisms underlying the redistribution of mean momentum and vorticity are explored for transitional two-dimensional boundary-layer flow at nominally zero pressure gradient. The analyses primarily employ the direct numerical simulation database of Wu & Moin (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 630, 2009, p. 5), but are supplemented with verifications utilizing subsequent similar simulations. The transitional regime is taken to include both an instability stage, which effectively generates a finite Reynolds stress profile, −ρuv(y), and a nonlinear development stage, which progresses until the terms in the mean momentum equation attain the magnitude ordering of the four-layer structure revealed by Wei et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 522, 2005, p. 303). Self-consistently applied criteria reveal that the third layer of this structure forms first, followed by layers IV and then II and I. For the present flows, the four-layer structure is estimated to be first realized at a momentum thickness Reynolds number Rθ = U∞ θ/ν ≃ 780. The first-principles-based theory of Fife et al. (J. Disc. Cont. Dyn. Syst. A, vol. 24, 2009, p. 781) is used to describe the mean dynamics in the laminar, transitional and four-layer regimes. As in channel flow, the transitional regime is marked by a non-negligible influence of all three terms in the mean momentum equation at essentially all positions in the boundary layer. During the transitional regime, the action of the Reynolds stress gradient rearranges the mean viscous force and mean advection profiles. This culminates with the segregation of forces characteristic of the four-layer regime. Empirical and theoretical evidence suggests that the formation of the four-layer structure also underlies the emergence of the mean dynamical properties characteristic of the high-Reynolds-number flow. These pertain to why and where the mean velocity profile increasingly exhibits logarithmic behaviour, and how and why the Reynolds stress distribution develops such that the inner normalized position of its peak value, ym+, exhibits a Reynolds number dependence according to $y_m^+ {\,\simeq\,} 1.9 \sqrt{\delta^+}$.

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