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Observations and Modelling of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Over Sea-Ice in a Svalbard Fjord

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Abstract

Sonic anemometer and profile mast measurements made in Wahlenbergfjorden, Svalbard Arctic archipelago, in May 2006 and April 2007 were employed to study the atmospheric boundary layer over sea-ice. The turbulent surface fluxes of momentum and sensible heat were calculated using eddy correlation and gradient methods. The results showed that the literature-based universal functions underestimated turbulent mixing in strongly stable conditions. The validity of the Monin-Obukhov similarity theory was questionable for cross-fjord flow directions and in the presence of mesoscale variability or topographic effects. The aerodynamic roughness length showed a dependence on the wind direction. The mean roughness length for along-fjord wind directions was (2.4 ± 2.6) × 10−4 m, whereas that for cross-fjord directions was (5.4 ± 2.8) × 10−3 m. The thermal stratification and turbulent fluxes were affected by the synoptic situation with large differences between the 2 years. Channelling effects and drainage flows occurred especially during a weak large-scale flow. The study periods were simulated applying the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model with 1-km horizontal resolution in the finest domain. The results for the 2-m air temperature and friction velocity were good, but the model failed to reproduce the spatial variability in wind direction between measurement sites 3 km apart. The model suggested that wind shear above the stable boundary layer provided a non-local source for the turbulence observed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Centre in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Norway

    Eeva Mäkiranta & Anna Sjöblom

  2. University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Eeva Mäkiranta & Esa-Matti Tastula

  3. Finnish Meteorological Institute, P.O. Box 503, 00101, Helsinki, Finland

    Timo Vihma

  4. Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Anna Sjöblom

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  1. Eeva Mäkiranta
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  2. Timo Vihma
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  3. Anna Sjöblom
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  4. Esa-Matti Tastula
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Correspondence to Timo Vihma.

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Mäkiranta, E., Vihma, T., Sjöblom, A. et al. Observations and Modelling of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Over Sea-Ice in a Svalbard Fjord. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 140, 105–123 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-011-9609-1

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