Logarithmic profile of temperature in sheared and unstably stratified atmospheric boundary layers

Cheng, Yu; Li, Qi; Li, Dan; Gentine, Pierre

doi:10.1103/physrevfluids.6.034606

Logarithmic profile of temperature in sheared and unstably stratified atmospheric boundary layers

Journal Article · Thu Mar 11 00:00:00 EST 2021 · Physical Review Fluids

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevfluids.6.034606· OSTI ID:1770297

^[1]; Li, Qi ^[2]; Li, Dan ^[3]; ^[4]

Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States); Columbia university
Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)
Boston Univ., MA (United States)
Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)

The impact of buoyancy on the mean velocity, temperature, and scalar concentration profiles in the lower atmosphere is typically investigated within the framework of Monin-Obukhov similarity theory (MOST). MOST is the theoretical foundation for parametrizing surface-atmosphere exchanges in nearly all weather, climate, and hydrological models.According to MOST, the classic logarithmic profiles of mean velocity and temperature break down as the buoyancy effects become important. However, recent studies on turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection and natural convection along vertical walls suggest that the mean temperature in the near-surface region still follows a logarithmic profile.Motivated by these new results, we study the mean potential temperature profile in sheared and unstably stratified atmospheric boundary layers using direct numerical simulations and field observations. We find that the mean potential temperature profile remains logarithmic across a wide range of stability parameters, which characterizes the relative importance of buoyancy versus shear effects. Compared to MOST, our results suggest that the buoyancy force does not modify the logarithmic nature of the mean potential temperature profile, but instead modulates its slope, which is no longer universal and differs from 1/κ,whereκisthe von Kármán constant. Furthermore, this study provides another perspective on scalar turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Biological Systems Science Division

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0014203

OSTI ID:: 1770297

Journal Information:: Physical Review Fluids, Journal Name: Physical Review Fluids Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 6; ISSN 2469-990X

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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