Abstract
Observations and theory presented in a paper by Nieuwstadt (J Atmos Sci 41:2202–2216, 1984) are reviewed and reconsidered. We have used a large eddy simulation (LES) model to make a 10-h rerun. Averaged results obtained for the last hour were considered to be representative for the wind-driven, quasi steady nocturnal boundary layer as reported in Nieuwstadt’s paper. The turbulence characteristics found with the LES model are in good to excellent agreement with the majority of the observations and confirms the uniqueness of the dataset, though the scatter in the data is (understandably) large. Laboratory experiments of the stable boundary layer might reduce the uncertainty in existing data and should be encouraged. The concept of local scaling, introduced by Nieuwstadt in 1984 was also confirmed by our simulations. Nieuwstadt’s experiment and local scaling theory of the SBL were a major achievement and an important contributions to our understanding of the SBL.
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van Dop, H., Axelsen, S. Large Eddy Simulation of the Stable Boundary-Layer: A Retrospect to Nieuwstadt’s Early Work. Flow Turbulence Combust 79, 235–249 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10494-007-9093-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10494-007-9093-3