scholarly journals Countergradient heat flux observations during the evening transition period

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 7711-7737 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Blay-Carreras ◽  
E. R. Pardyjak ◽  
D. Pino ◽  
D. C. Alexander ◽  
F. Lohou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Heat Flux ◽  
Surface Layer ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Buoyancy Flux ◽  
Horizontal Shear ◽  
Evening Transition ◽  
Virtual Potential Temperature

Abstract. Gradient-based turbulence models generally assume that the buoyancy flux ceases to introduce heat into the surface layer of the atmospheric boundary layer in temporal consonance with the gradient of the local virtual potential temperature. Here, we hypothesize that during the evening transition a delay exists between the instant when the buoyancy flux goes to zero and the time when the local gradient of the virtual potential temperature indicates a sign change. This phenomenon is studied using a range of data collected over several Intensive Observational Periods (IOPs) during the Boundary Layer Late Afternoon and Sunset Turbulence field campaign conducted in Lannemezan, France. The focus is mainly on the lower part of the surface layer using a tower instrumented with high-speed temperature and velocity sensors. The results from this work confirm and quantify a flux-gradient delay. Specifically, the observed values of the delay are ~30–80 min. The existence of the delay and its duration can be explained by considering the convective time scale and the competition of forces associated with the classical Rayleigh–Bénard problem. This combined theory predicts that the last eddy formed while the sensible heat flux changes sign during the evening transition should produce a delay. It appears that this last eddy is decelerated through the action of turbulent momentum and thermal diffusivities, and that the delay is related to the convective turn – over time – scale. Observations indicate that as horizontal shear becomes more important, the delay time apparently increases to values greater than the convective turnover time-scale.

scholarly journals Countergradient heat flux observations during the evening transition period

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (17) ◽  
pp. 9077-9085 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Blay-Carreras ◽  
E. R. Pardyjak ◽  
D. Pino ◽  
D. C. Alexander ◽  
F. Lohou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Heat Flux ◽  
Surface Layer ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Sensible Heat Flux ◽  
Buoyancy Flux ◽  
Horizontal Shear ◽  
Evening Transition ◽  
Virtual Potential Temperature

Abstract. Gradient-based turbulence models generally assume that the buoyancy flux ceases to introduce heat into the surface layer of the atmospheric boundary layer in temporal consonance with the gradient of the local virtual potential temperature. Here, we hypothesize that during the evening transition a delay exists between the instant when the buoyancy flux goes to zero and the time when the local gradient of the virtual potential temperature indicates a sign change. This phenomenon is studied using a range of data collected over several intensive observational periods (IOPs) during the Boundary Layer Late Afternoon and Sunset Turbulence field campaign conducted in Lannemezan, France. The focus is mainly on the lower part of the surface layer using a tower instrumented with high-speed temperature and velocity sensors. The results from this work confirm and quantify a flux-gradient delay. Specifically, the observed values of the delay are ~ 30–80 min. The existence of the delay and its duration can be explained by considering the convective timescale and the competition of forces associated with the classical Rayleigh–Bénard problem. This combined theory predicts that the last eddy formed while the sensible heat flux changes sign during the evening transition should produce a delay. It appears that this last eddy is decelerated through the action of turbulent momentum and thermal diffusivities, and that the delay is related to the convective turnover timescale. Observations indicate that as horizontal shear becomes more important, the delay time apparently increases to values greater than the convective turnover timescale.

scholarly journals Planetary boundary layer evolution over the Amazon rain forest in episodes of deep moist convection at ATTO

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurício I. Oliveira ◽  
Otávio C. Acevedo ◽  
Matthias Sörgel ◽  
Ernani L. Nascimento ◽  
Antonio O. Manzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Sensible Heat Flux ◽  
Moist Convection ◽  
Early Afternoon ◽  
Virtual Potential Temperature ◽  
Gust Fronts ◽  
Deep Moist Convection ◽  
Tall Tower ◽  
Gust Front

Abstract. In this study, high-frequency, multi-level measurements performed from late October to mid-November of 2015 at a 80-m tall tower of the Amazon Tall Tower Observatory (ATTO) project in central Amazonas State, Brazil, were used to diagnose the evolution of thermodynamic and kinematic variables as well as scalar fluxes during the passage of outflows generated by deep moist convection (DMC). Outflow associated with DMC activity over or near the tall tower was identified through the analysis of storm echoes in base reflectivity data from S-band weather radar at Manaus, combined with the detection of gust fronts and cold pools utilizing tower data. Four outflow events were selected, three of which took place during the early evening transition or nighttime hours and one during the early afternoon. Results show that the magnitude of the drop in virtual potential temperature and changes in wind velocity during outflow passages vary according to the type, organization, and life cycle of the convective storm. Overall, the nocturnal events highlighted the passage of well-defined gust fronts with moderate decrease in virtual potential temperature and increase in wind speed. The early afternoon event lacked a sharp gust front and only a gradual drop in virtual potential temperature was observed, probably because of weak or undeveloped outflow. Sensible heat flux (H) experienced an increase at the time of gust front arrival, which was possibly due to sinking of colder air. This was followed by a prolonged period of negative H, associated with enhanced nocturnal negative H in the storms' wake. In turn, increased latent heat flux (LE) was observed following the gust front, owing to drier air coming from the outflow; however, malfunctioning of the moisture sensors during rain precluded a better assessment of this variable. Substantial enhancements of Turbulent Kinetic Energy (TKE) were observed during and after gust front passage, with values comparable to those measured in grass fire experiments, evidencing the highly turbulent character of convective outflows. The early afternoon event displayed slight decreases in the aforementioned quantities in the passage of the outflow. Finally, a conceptual model of the time evolution of H in nocturnal convective outflows observed at the tower site is presented.

scholarly journals Effects of Boundary Layer Vertical Mixing on the Evolution of Hurricanes over Land

2017 ◽  
Vol 145 (6) ◽  
pp. 2343-2361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feimin Zhang ◽  
Zhaoxia Pu ◽  
Chenghai Wang
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Vertical Mixing ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Vertical Gradient ◽  
Weather Research And Forecasting ◽  
Virtual Potential Temperature ◽  
Dynamic Structures ◽  
Hurricane Boundary Layer

Abstract After a hurricane makes landfall, its evolution is strongly influenced by its interaction with the planetary boundary layer (PBL) over land. In this study, a series of numerical experiments are performed to examine the effects of boundary layer vertical mixing on hurricane simulations over land using a research version of the NCEP Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) Model with three landfalling hurricane cases. It is found that vertical mixing in the PBL has a strong influence on the simulated hurricane evolution. Specifically, strong vertical mixing has a positive impact on numerical simulations of hurricanes over land, with better track, intensity, synoptic flow, and precipitation simulations. In contrast, weak vertical mixing leads to the strong hurricanes over land. Diagnoses of the thermodynamic and dynamic structures of hurricane vortices further suggest that the strong vertical mixing in the PBL could cause a decrease in the vertical wind shear and an increase in the vertical gradient of virtual potential temperature. As a consequence, these changes destroy the turbulence kinetic energy in the hurricane boundary layer and thus stabilize the hurricane boundary layer and limit its maintenance over land.

scholarly journals Characteristics of the Heat Flux in the Unstable Atmospheric Surface Layer

2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (11) ◽  
pp. 4519-4529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maithili Sharan ◽  
Piyush Srivastava
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Surface Layer ◽  
Temperature Gradient ◽  
Power Law ◽  
Atmospheric Surface Layer ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Stability Parameter ◽  
Layer Potential ◽  
Power Law Function ◽  
The Stability

Abstract The behavior of the heat flux H with respect to the stability parameter (=z/L, where z is the height above the ground, and L is the Obukhov length) in the unstable atmospheric surface layer is analyzed within the framework of Monin–Obukhov similarity (MOS) theory. Using MOS equations, H is expressed as a function of and vertical surface-layer potential temperature gradient . A mathematical analysis is carried out to analyze the theoretical nature of heat flux with the stability parameter by considering the vertical potential temperature gradient as (i) a constant and (ii) a power-law function of heat flux. For a given value of H, two values of associated with different stability regimes are found to occur in both the conditions, suggesting the nonuniqueness of MOS equations. Turbulent data over three different sites—(i) Ranchi, India; (ii) the Met Office’s Cardington, United Kingdom, monitoring facility; and (iii) 1999 Cooperative Atmosphere–Surface Exchange Study (CASES-99; United States—are analyzed to compare the observed nature of H with that predicted by MOS. The analysis of observational data over these three sites reveals that the observed variation of H with is consistent with that obtained theoretically from MOS equations when considering the vertical temperature gradient as a power-law function of heat flux having the exponent larger than 2/3. The existence of two different values of the stability parameter for a given value of heat flux suggests that the application of heat flux as a boundary condition involves some intricacies, and it should be applied with caution in convective conditions.

scholarly journals Planetary boundary layer evolution over the Amazon rainforest in episodes of deep moist convection at the Amazon Tall Tower Observatory

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurício I. Oliveira ◽  
Otávio C. Acevedo ◽  
Matthias Sörgel ◽  
Ernani L. Nascimento ◽  
Antonio O. Manzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Sensible Heat Flux ◽  
Moist Convection ◽  
Early Afternoon ◽  
Virtual Potential Temperature ◽  
Gust Fronts ◽  
Deep Moist Convection ◽  
Tall Tower ◽  
Gust Front

Abstract. In this study, high-frequency, multilevel measurements, performed from late October to mid-November of 2015 at a 80 m tall tower of the Amazon Tall Tower Observatory (ATTO) project in the central state of Amazonas, Brazil, were used to diagnose the evolution of thermodynamic and kinematic variables as well as scalar fluxes during the passage of outflows generated by deep moist convection (DMC). Outflow associated with DMC activity over or near the tall tower was identified through the analysis of storm echoes in base reflectivity data from an S-band weather radar at Manaus, combined with the detection of gust fronts and cold pools utilizing tower data. Four outflow events were selected, three of which took place during the early evening transition or nighttime hours and one during the early afternoon. Results show that the magnitude of the drop in virtual potential temperature and changes in wind velocity during outflow passages vary according to the type, organization, and life cycle of the convective storm. The nocturnal events had well-defined gust fronts with moderate decreases in virtual potential temperature and increases in wind speed. The early afternoon event lacked a sharp gust front and only a gradual drop in virtual potential temperature was observed, probably because of weak or undeveloped outflow. Sensible heat flux (H) increased at the time of the gust front arrival, which was possibly due to the sinking of colder air. This was followed by a prolonged period of negative H, associated with enhanced nocturnal negative H in the wake of the storms. In turn, increased latent heat flux (LE) was observed following the gust front, owing to drier air coming from the outflow; however, malfunctioning of the moisture sensors during rain precluded a better assessment of this variable. Substantial enhancements of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) were observed during and after the gust front passage, with values comparable to those measured in grass fire experiments, evidencing the highly turbulent character of convective outflows. The early afternoon event displayed slight decreases in the aforementioned quantities in the passage of the outflow. Finally, a conceptual model of the time evolution of H in nocturnal convective outflows observed at the tower site is presented.

Numerical simulation of the evening transition in the atmospheric boundary layer using LES and RANS models

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Tkachenko ◽  
Andrey Debolskiy ◽  
Evgeny Mortikov
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Heat Flux ◽  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Atmospheric Boundary Layer ◽  
Decay Rate ◽  
Surface Heat Flux ◽  
Dissipation Rate ◽  
Surface Heat ◽  
Evening Transition ◽  
Rans Models

<div>This study investigates the dynamics of the evening transition in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) diurnal cycle, specifically the decay of the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) taking place there. Generally, the TKE decay is assumed to follow the power law E(t) ~ t<sup>-α,</sup> where E(t) and t are normalized TKE and normalized time, respectively, and the parameter α determines the decay rate. </div><div> <p>Two types of ABL numerical modeling are compared: three-dimensional large-eddy simulation (LES) models and one-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) models. The evening transition is simulated through facilitating the formation of the convective boundary layer (CBL) by having a constant positive surface heat flux, and the subsequent decay of the CBL when the surface heat flux is decreased. </p> <p>Several features of this process have been studied in relative depth, in particular the TKE decay rate at different stages of the evening transition, the sensitivity of the results to the domain size, and the dynamics of the large- and small-scale turbulence during the transition period. LES experiments with different setups were performed, and the results were then compared to those obtained through RANS experiments based on the k-epsilon model (a two-equation model for TKE and dissipation rate, where model constants are chosen to allow for correct simulation of SBL main properties [1], as well as CBL growth rate [2]).</p> <p>This study was funded by Russian Foundation of Basic Research within the project N 20-05-00776 and the grant of the RF President within the MK-1867.2020.5 project.</p> <div>1. Mortikov E. V., Glazunov A. V., Debolskiy A. V., Lykosov V. N., Zilitinkevich S. S. Modeling of the Dissipation Rate of Turbulent Kinetic Energy // Doklady Earth Sciences. 2019. V. 489(2). P. 1440-1443 </div> <p>2. Burchard H. Applied Turbulence Modelling in Marine Waters. Berlin, Germany: Springer, 2002. P. 57-59</p> </div>

scholarly journals Surface Heterogeneity Effects on Regional-Scale Fluxes in Stable Boundary Layers: Surface Temperature Transitions

2009 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 412-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Stoll ◽  
Fernando Porté-Agel
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Heat Flux ◽  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Surface Heat Flux ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Surface Heterogeneity ◽  
Surface Heat ◽  
Average Surface ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Large-eddy simulation, with recently developed dynamic subgrid-scale models, is used to study the effect of heterogeneous surface temperature distributions on regional-scale turbulent fluxes in the stable boundary layer (SBL). Simulations are performed of a continuously turbulent SBL with surface heterogeneity added in the form of streamwise transitions in surface temperature. Temperature differences between patches of 6 and 3 K are explored with patch length scales ranging from one-half to twice the equivalent homogeneous boundary layer height. The surface temperature heterogeneity has important effects on the mean wind speed and potential temperature profiles as well as on the surface heat flux distribution. Increasing the difference between the patch temperatures results in decreased magnitude of the average surface heat flux, with a corresponding increase in the mean potential temperature in the boundary layer. The simulation results are also used to test existing models for average surface fluxes over heterogeneous terrain. The tested models fail to fully represent the average turbulent heat flux, with models that break the domain into homogeneous subareas grossly underestimating the heat flux magnitude over patches with relatively colder surface temperatures. Motivated by these results, a new parameterization based on local similarity theory is proposed. The new formulation is found to correct the bias over the cold patches, resulting in improved average surface heat flux calculations.

scholarly journals Numerical Study of Nocturnal Low-Level Jets over Gently Sloping Terrain

2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (9) ◽  
pp. 2813-2834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evgeni Fedorovich ◽  
Jeremy A. Gibbs ◽  
Alan Shapiro
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Slope Angle ◽  
Vertical Position ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Evening Transition ◽  
Low Level Jets ◽  
Sloping Terrain ◽  
Surface Buoyancy

Abstract Nocturnal low-level jets (LLJs) over gently sloping terrain typical of the U.S. Great Plains are investigated by means of direct numerical simulation. Such LLJs develop in a tilted atmospheric boundary layer as a result of inertia–gravity oscillations initiated by a change of the surface thermal forcing during the evening transition. External parameters are the free-atmospheric geostrophic wind, ambient atmospheric stratification, surface buoyancy forcing, and slope angle. The governing momentum and buoyancy balance equations are written in slope-following coordinates, and solved numerically in the Boussinesq approximation. The surface forcing is prescribed in a form of surface buoyancy or buoyancy flux, both of which are slope-uniform but change in time. LLJs over slopes are contrasted with LLJs over flat terrain. Slope-induced effects essentially modify the entire structure of nocturnal LLJs. The shape of the LLJ wind profile over a slope is characterized by a sharper and larger-magnitude maximum. The presence of the slope causes the along-slope advection of environmental potential temperature during the night. This advection can reignite static instability in the LLJ flow developing after the evening transition. The resulting turbulence leads to a complete or partial remix of the boundary layer flow and drastically changes the appearance of the LLJ in terms of its shape and vertical position. A pronounced nighttime jet can also develop from the daytime convective boundary layer in the absence of any free-atmospheric geostrophic forcing. The daytime flow preconditioning, an important precursor of the nocturnal LLJ development, plays an especially important role in LLJs over a slope.

scholarly journals Potential and Limitations in Estimating Sensible-Heat-Flux Profiles from Consecutive Temperature Profiles Using Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 174 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Line Båserud ◽  
Joachim Reuder ◽  
Marius O. Jonassen ◽  
Timothy A. Bonin ◽  
Phillip B. Chilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Heat Flux ◽  
Mesoscale Model ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Sensible Heat Flux ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Sensible Heat ◽  
Tethered Balloon ◽  
Flux Divergence ◽  
Remotely Piloted Aircraft

Abstract Profiles of the sensible heat flux are key to understanding atmospheric-boundary-layer (ABL) structure and development. Based on temperature profiling by a remotely-piloted aircraft system (RPAS), the Small Unmanned Meteorological Observer (SUMO) platform, during the Boundary Layer Late Afternoon and Sunset Turbulence (BLLAST) field campaign, 108 heat-flux profiles are estimated using a simplified version of the prognostic equation for potential temperature $$\theta $$θ that relates the tendency in $$\theta $$θ to the flux divergence over the time span between two consecutive flights. We validate for the first time RPAS-based heat-flux profiles against a network of 12 ground-based eddy-covariance stations (2–60 m above ground), in addition to a comparison with fluxes from a manned aircraft and a tethered balloon, enabling the detailed investigation of the potential and limitations related to this technique for obtaining fluxes from RPAS platforms. We find that appropriate treatment of horizontal advection is crucial for obtaining realistic flux values, and present correction methods specific to the state of the ABL. Advection from a mesoscale model is also tested as another correction method. The SUMO heat-flux estimates with appropriate corrections compare well with the reference measurements, with differences in the performance depending on the time of day, since the evening period shows the best results (94$$\%$$% within the spread of ground stations), and the afternoon period shows the poorest results (63$$\%$$% within the spread). The diurnal cycle of the heat flux is captured by the SUMO platform for several days, with the flux values from the manned aircraft and tethered balloon coinciding well with those from the SUMO platform.

scholarly journals Testing the efficacy of atmospheric boundary layer height detection algorithms using uncrewed aircraft system data from MOSAiC

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gina Jozef ◽  
John Cassano ◽  
Sandro Dahlke ◽  
Gijs de Boer
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Atmospheric Boundary Layer ◽  
Richardson Number ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Radiation Budget ◽  
Radiosonde Data ◽  
High Temporal Resolution ◽  
Bulk Richardson Number ◽  
Virtual Potential Temperature ◽  
Aircraft System

Abstract. During the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition, meteorological conditions over the lowest 1 km of the atmosphere were sampled with the DataHawk2 (DH2) fixed wing uncrewed aircraft system (UAS). Of particular interest is the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) height, as ABL structure can be closely coupled to cloud properties, surface fluxes, and the atmospheric radiation budget. The high temporal resolution of the UAS observations allows us to subjectively identify ABL height for 65 out of the total 89 flights conducted over the central Arctic Ocean between 23 March and 26 July 2020 by visually analyzing profiles of virtual potential temperature, humidity, and bulk Richardson number. Comparing this subjective ABL height with the ABL heights identified by various previously published objective methods allows us to determine which objective methods are most successful at accurately identifying ABL height in the central Arctic environment. The objective methods we use are the Liu-Liang, Heffter, virtual potential temperature gradient maximum, and bulk Richardson number methods. In the process of testing these objective methods on the DH2 data, numerical thresholds were adapted to work best for the UAS-based sampling. To determine if conclusions are robust across different measurement platforms, the subjective and objective ABL height determination processes were repeated using the radiosonde profile closest in time to each DH2 flight. For both the DH2 and radiosonde data, it is determined that the bulk Richardson number method is the most successful at identifying ABL height, while the Liu-Liang method is least successful.

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