A TKE-Based Framework for Studying Disturbed Atmospheric Surface Layer Flows and Application to Vertical Velocity Variance Over Canopies

Journal Article · 18 June 2018 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2018gl077853 · OSTI ID:1539742

Chamecki, Marcelo  ^[1]; Dias, Nelson L.  ^[2]; Freire, Livia S. ^[2]

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1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States); DOE/OSTI
2. Federal Univ. of Parana, Curitiba (Brazil)

We propose an approach to study disturbed surface layer flows based on a simplified form of the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) budget equation (the reduced TKE budget), which can be represented by a two-dimensional phase space. The phase space provides a way to quantify relative contributions of shear and buoyancy production/destruction of TKE, as well as the local imbalance between local production and dissipation. In this framework, Monin-Obukhov Similarity Theory represents one possible approach to reduce the dimensionality of the phase space. We apply this framework to study the vertical velocity variance in the canonical surface layer and in the canopy roughness sublayer above the Amazon forest. Results reveal interesting insight into the behavior of the vertical velocity variance over forests, linking its magnitude to the imbalance between local production and dissipation of TKE.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0011075
• OSTI ID: 1539742
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 13 Vol. 45; ISSN 0094-8276
• Publisher: American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English