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Logarithmic scaling of higher-order temperature moments in the atmospheric surface layer

Journal Article · · International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [4]
  1. University of Notre Dame, IN (United States); OSTI
  2. California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)
  3. Trinity College, Hartford, CT (United States)
  4. Duke Univ., Durham, NC (United States)

A generalized logarithmic law for high-order moments of homogeneous passive scalars is proposed for turbulent boundary layers. This law is analogous to the generalized log law that has been proposed for high-order moments of the turbulent longitudinal velocity and is derived by combining the random sweeping decorrelation hypothesis with a spectral model informed by the attached eddy hypothesis. The proposed theory predicts that the high-order moments of passive scalar fluctuations within the inertial sublayer will vary logarithmically with wall-normal distance (), and is evaluated using high frequency time-series measurements of temperature and streamwise velocity fluctuations obtained in the first meter of the atmospheric surface layer (ASL) under near-neutral thermal stratification. The logarithmic dependence with within the inertial sublayer is observed in both the air temperature and velocity moments, with good agreement to the predictions from the proposed theory. Surprisingly, the proposed theory appears to be as, if not more, valid for transported passive scalars than for the longitudinal velocity.

Research Organization:
Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC); National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0022072
OSTI ID:
2422011
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1975149
Journal Information:
International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, Journal Name: International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow Journal Issue: C Vol. 102; ISSN 0142-727X
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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