Low-wavenumber spectral characteristics of velocity and temperature in the atmospheric surface layer

The structure of atmospheric surface layer turbulence at low wavenumbers was analyzed using 56 Hz triaxial velocity and temperature measurements above a uniform dry lake bed. A key feature of this experiment was the small roughness length of the surface that resulted in a small roughness Reynolds number. Under near-neutral atmospheric stability conditions, a -1 power law was observed in both measured velocity and temperature spectra which is consistent with previously proposed dimensional analysis for rough and smooth turbulent boundary layer flows. The wavenumber at which the -1 power law terminates and the -5/3 power law commences was derived as a function of the Kolmogorov and von Karman constants. For unstable atmospheric conditions, directional dimensional analysis was used to predict the slopes of the power spectra of temperature and velocity. It was demonstrated that for moderately unstable conditions, the temperature and vertical velocity power spectra exhibited a -1 power law, but the longitudinal velocity exhibited a -2 power law. (from Authors)

Duke Scholars

Author Gabriel G. Katul Civil and Environmental Engineering