scholarly journals Study of a prototypical convective boundary layer observed during BLLAST: contributions by large-scale forcings

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 4241-4257 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. P. Pietersen ◽  
J. Vilà-Guerau de Arellano ◽  
P. Augustin ◽  
A. van de Boer ◽  
O. de Coster ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Convective Boundary Layer ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Surface Heterogeneity ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Convective Boundary ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Local Boundary ◽  
Heat And Moisture

Abstract. We study the influence of the large-scale atmospheric contribution to the dynamics of the convective boundary layer (CBL) in a situation observed during the Boundary Layer Late Afternoon and Sunset Turbulence (BLLAST) field campaign. We employ two modeling approaches, the mixed-layer theory and large-eddy simulation (LES), with a complete data set of surface and upper-air atmospheric observations, to quantify the contributions of the advection of heat and moisture, and subsidence. We find that by only taking surface and entrainment fluxes into account, the boundary-layer height is overestimated by 70%. Constrained by surface and upper-air observations, we infer the large-scale vertical motions and horizontal advection of heat and moisture. Our findings show that subsidence has a clear diurnal pattern. Supported by the presence of a nearby mountain range, this pattern suggests that not only synoptic scales exert their influence on the boundary layer, but also mesoscale circulations. LES results show a satisfactory correspondence of the vertical structure of turbulent variables with observations. We also find that when large-scale advection and subsidence are included in the simulation, the values for turbulent kinetic energy are lower than without these large-scale forcings. We conclude that the prototypical CBL is a valid representation of the boundary-layer dynamics near regions characterized by complex topography and small-scale surface heterogeneity, provided that surface- and large-scale forcings are representative for the local boundary layer.

scholarly journals Study of a prototypical convective boundary layer observed during BLLAST: contributions by large-scale forcings

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 19247-19291 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Pietersen ◽  
J. Vilà-Guerau de Arellano ◽  
P. Augustin ◽  
O. de Coster ◽  
H. Delbarre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Surface Heterogeneity ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Convective Boundary ◽  
Good Correspondence ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Boundary Layer Height ◽  
Boundary Layer Dynamics

Abstract. We study the disturbances of CBL dynamics due to large-scale atmospheric contributions for a representative day observed during the Boundary Layer Late Afternoon and Sunset Turbulence (BLLAST) campaign. We first reproduce the observed boundary-layer dynamics by combining the Dutch Atmospheric Large-Eddy Simulation (DALES) model with a mixed-layer theory based model. We find that by only taking surface and entrainment fluxes into account, the boundary-layer height is overestimated by 70%. If we constrain our numerical experiments with the BLLAST comprehensive data set, we are able to quantify the contributions of advection of heat and moisture, and subsidence. We find that subsidence has a clear diurnal pattern. Supported by the presence of a nearby mountain range, this pattern suggests that not only synoptic scales exert their influence on the boundary layer, but also mesoscale circulations. Finally, we study whether the vertical and temporal evolution of turbulent variables are influenced by these large-scale forcings. Our model results show good correspondence of the vertical structure of turbulent variables with observations. Our findings further indicate that when large-scale advection and subsidence are applied, the values for turbulent kinetic are lower than without these large-scale forcings. We conclude that the prototypical CBL can still be used as a valid representation of the boundary-layer dynamics near regions characterized by complex topography and small-scale surface heterogeneity, provided that surface- and large-scale forcings are well characterized.

scholarly journals A Combined Local and Nonlocal Closure Model for the Atmospheric Boundary Layer. Part I: Model Description and Testing

2007 ◽  
Vol 46 (9) ◽  
pp. 1383-1395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan E. Pleim
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Atmospheric Boundary Layer ◽  
Convective Boundary Layer ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Eddy Diffusion ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Convective Conditions ◽  
Convective Boundary ◽  
Scale Turbulence ◽  
Convective Model

Abstract The modeling of the atmospheric boundary layer during convective conditions has long been a major source of uncertainty in the numerical modeling of meteorological conditions and air quality. Much of the difficulty stems from the large range of turbulent scales that are effective in the convective boundary layer (CBL). Both small-scale turbulence that is subgrid in most mesoscale grid models and large-scale turbulence extending to the depth of the CBL are important for the vertical transport of atmospheric properties and chemical species. Eddy diffusion schemes assume that all of the turbulence is subgrid and therefore cannot realistically simulate convective conditions. Simple nonlocal closure PBL models, such as the Blackadar convective model that has been a mainstay PBL option in the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (MM5) for many years and the original asymmetric convective model (ACM), also an option in MM5, represent large-scale transport driven by convective plumes but neglect small-scale, subgrid turbulent mixing. A new version of the ACM (ACM2) has been developed that includes the nonlocal scheme of the original ACM combined with an eddy diffusion scheme. Thus, the ACM2 is able to represent both the supergrid- and subgrid-scale components of turbulent transport in the convective boundary layer. Testing the ACM2 in one-dimensional form and comparing it with large-eddy simulations and field data from the 1999 Cooperative Atmosphere–Surface Exchange Study demonstrates that the new scheme accurately simulates PBL heights, profiles of fluxes and mean quantities, and surface-level values. The ACM2 performs equally well for both meteorological parameters (e.g., potential temperature, moisture variables, and winds) and trace chemical concentrations, which is an advantage over eddy diffusion models that include a nonlocal term in the form of a gradient adjustment.

scholarly journals Characterization of a boreal convective boundary layer and its impact on atmospheric chemistry during HUMPPA-COPEC-2010

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 9335-9353 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. G. Ouwersloot ◽  
J. Vilà-Guerau de Arellano ◽  
A. C. Nölscher ◽  
M. C. Krol ◽  
L. N. Ganzeveld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Convective Boundary Layer ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Convective Boundary ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. We studied the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) dynamics and the impact on atmospheric chemistry during the HUMPPA-COPEC-2010 campaign. We used vertical profiles of potential temperature and specific moisture, obtained from 132 radio soundings, to determine the main boundary layer characteristics during the campaign. We propose a classification according to several main ABL prototypes. Further, we performed a case study of a single day, focusing on the convective boundary layer, to analyse the influence of the dynamics on the chemical evolution of the ABL. We used a mixed layer model, initialized and constrained by observations. In particular, we investigated the role of large scale atmospheric dynamics (subsidence and advection) on the ABL development and the evolution of chemical species concentrations. We find that, if the large scale forcings are taken into account, the ABL dynamics are represented satisfactorily. Subsequently, we studied the impact of mixing with a residual layer aloft during the morning transition on atmospheric chemistry. The time evolution of NOx and O3 concentrations, including morning peaks, can be explained and accurately simulated by incorporating the transition of the ABL dynamics from night to day. We demonstrate the importance of the ABL height evolution for the representation of atmospheric chemistry. Our findings underscore the need to couple the dynamics and chemistry at different spatial scales (from turbulence to mesoscale) in chemistry-transport models and in the interpretation of observational data.

scholarly journals Comparison of Convective Boundary Layer Velocity Spectra Retrieved from Large- Eddy-Simulation and Weather Research and Forecasting Model Data

2014 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 377-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy A. Gibbs ◽  
Evgeni Fedorovich
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Convective Boundary Layer ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Velocity Fields ◽  
Weather Research And Forecasting ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Convective Boundary ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Velocity Spectra

AbstractAs computing capabilities expand, operational and research environments are moving toward the use of finescale atmospheric numerical models. These models are attractive for users who seek an accurate description of small-scale turbulent motions. One such numerical tool is the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, which has been extensively used in synoptic-scale and mesoscale studies. As finer-resolution simulations become more desirable, it remains a question whether the model features originally designed for the simulation of larger-scale atmospheric flows will translate to adequate reproductions of small-scale motions. In this study, turbulent flow in the dry atmospheric convective boundary layer (CBL) is simulated using a conventional large-eddy-simulation (LES) code and the WRF model applied in an LES mode. The two simulation configurations use almost identical numerical grids and are initialized with the same idealized vertical profiles of wind velocity, temperature, and moisture. The respective CBL forcings are set equal and held constant. The effects of the CBL wind shear and of the varying grid spacings are investigated. Horizontal slices of velocity fields are analyzed to enable a comparison of CBL flow patterns obtained with each simulation method. Two-dimensional velocity spectra are used to characterize the planar turbulence structure. One-dimensional velocity spectra are also calculated. Results show that the WRF model tends to attribute slightly more energy to larger-scale flow structures as compared with the CBL structures reproduced by the conventional LES. Consequently, the WRF model reproduces relatively less spatial variability of the velocity fields. Spectra from the WRF model also feature narrower inertial spectral subranges and indicate enhanced damping of turbulence on small scales.

scholarly journals Role of the residual layer and large-scale subsidence on the development and evolution of the convective boundary layer

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 31527-31562 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Blay-Carreras ◽  
D. Pino ◽  
A. Van de Boer ◽  
O. De Coster ◽  
C. Darbieu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Mixed Layer ◽  
Convective Boundary Layer ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Temporal Evolution ◽  
Residual Layer ◽  
Mixing Ratio ◽  
Convective Boundary ◽  
Previous Night ◽  
Morning Transition

Abstract. Observations, mixed-layer theory and the Dutch Large-Eddy Simulation model (DALES) are used to analyze the dynamics of the boundary layer during an intensive operational period (1 July 2011) of the Boundary Layer Late Afternoon and Sunset Turbulence campaign. Continuous measurements made by remote sensing and in situ instruments in combination with radio soundings, and measurements done by remotely piloted airplane systems and two aircrafts probed the vertical structure and the temporal evolution of the boundary layer during the campaign. The initial vertical profiles of potential temperature, specific humidity and wind, and the temporal evolution of the surface heat and moisture fluxes prescribed in the numerical simulations are inspired by some of these observations. The research focuses on the role played by the residual layer during the morning transition and by the large-scale subsidence on the evolution of the boundary layer. By using DALES, we show the importance of the dynamics of the boundary layer during the previous night in the development of the boundary layer at the morning. DALES numerical experiments including the residual layer are capable to model the observed sudden increase of the boundary-layer depth during the morning transition and the subsequent evolution of the boundary layer. The simulation shows a large increase of the entrainment buoyancy heat flux when the residual layer is incorporated into the mixed layer. We also examine how the inclusion of the residual layer above a shallow convective boundary layer modifies the turbulent kinetic energy budget. Large-scale subsidence mainly acts when the boundary layer is fully developed and, for the studied day, it is necessary to be considered to reproduce the afternoon observations. Additionally, we investigate how carbon dioxide (CO2) mixing ratio stored the previous night in the residual layer plays a fundamental role in the evolution of the CO2 mixing ratio during the following day.

A New Mixing-Length Formulation for the Parameterization of Dry Convection: Implementation and Evaluation in a Mesoscale Model

2004 ◽  
Vol 132 (11) ◽  
pp. 2698-2707 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Teixeira ◽  
J. P. Ferreira ◽  
P. M. A. Miranda ◽  
T. Haack ◽  
J. Doyle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Convective Boundary Layer ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mesoscale Model ◽  
Climate Impact ◽  
Layer Growth ◽  
Mixing Length ◽  
Convective Boundary ◽  
Realistic Representation ◽  
New Formulation

Abstract A realistic representation of the evolution of the dry convective boundary layer in mesoscale and large-scale atmospheric models has been an elusive goal for many years. In this paper the performance of a new mixing-length formulation for the dry convective boundary layer is evaluated in the context of the Coupled Ocean– Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS). In this new formulation, the mixing length is proportional to a time scale and to the square root of the turbulent kinetic energy. The model results are tested against observations from the Climate Impact of Changes in Land Use (CICLUS) field experiment in the south of Portugal. It is shown that COAMPS with the new formulation produces a more realistic simulation of the boundary layer growth. A data assimilation experiment performed with COAMPS shows that the improvements provided by the new formulation are significant, particularly in terms of the humidity vertical distribution. Finally, one-dimensional simulations are used to confirm that the new formulation provides more accurate results because of a more realistic representation of the entrainment and of the vertical mixing in general.

scholarly journals A Case Study of Convective Boundary Layer Development during IHOP_2002: Numerical Simulations Compared to Observations

2008 ◽  
Vol 136 (7) ◽  
pp. 2305-2320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Conzemius ◽  
Evgeni Fedorovich
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Convective Boundary Layer ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Convective Boundary ◽  
Turbulence Structures ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Boundary Layer Development ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Atmospheric Observations

Abstract Results are presented from a combined numerical and observational study of the convective boundary layer (CBL) diurnal evolution on a day of the International H2O Project (IHOP_2002) experiment that was marked by the passage of a dryline across part of the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles. The initial numerical setup was based on observational data obtained from IHOP_2002 measurement platforms and supplementary datasets from surrounding locations. The initial goals of the study were as follows: (i) numerical investigation of the structure and evolution of the relatively shallow and homogeneous CBL east of the dryline by means of large-eddy simulation (LES), (ii) evaluation of LES predictions of the sheared CBL growth against lidar observations of the CBL depth evolution, and (iii) comparison of the simulated turbulence structures with those observed by lidar and vertically pointing radar during the CBL evolution. In the process of meeting these goals, complications associated with comparisons between LES predictions and atmospheric observations of sheared CBLs were encountered, adding an additional purpose to this study, namely, to convey and analyze these issues. For a period during mid- to late morning, the simulated CBL evolution was found to be in fair agreement with atmospheric lidar and radar observations, and the simulated entrainment dynamics were consistent with those from previous studies. However, CBL depths, determined from lidar data, increased at a faster rate than in the simulations during the afternoon, and the wind direction veered in the simulations more than in the observations. The CBL depth discrepancy can be explained by a dryline solenoidal circulation reported in other studies of the 22 May 2002 case. The discrepancy in winds can be explained by time variation of the large-scale pressure gradient, which was not included in LES.

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