Abstract
In the present study, the well-known case of day 33 of the Wangara experiment is resimulated using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model in an idealized single-column mode to assess the performance of a frequently used planetary boundary layer (PBL) scheme, the Yonsei University PBL scheme. These results are compared with two large eddy simulations for the same case study imposing different surface fluxes: one using previous surface fluxes calculated for the Wangara experiment and a second one using output from the WRF model. Finally, an alternative set of eddy diffusivity equations was tested to represent the transition characteristics of a sunset period, which led to a gradual decrease of the eddy diffusivity, and replaces the instantaneous collapse of traditional diagnostics for eddy diffusivities. More appreciable changes were observed in air temperature and wind speed (up to 0.5 K, and 0.6 m s−1, respectively), whereas the changes in specific humidity were modest (up to 0.003 g kg−1). Although the representation of the convective decay in the standard parameterization did not show noticeable improvements in the simulation of state variables for the selected Wangara case study day, small changes in the eddy diffusivity over consecutive hours throughout the night can impact the simulation of distribution of trace gases in air quality models. So, this work points out the relevance of simulating the turbulent decay during sunset, which could help air quality forecast models to better represent the distribution of pollutants storage in the residual layer during the entire night.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Stull RB (1988) An introduction to boundary layer meteorology. Kluwer, Dordrecht
Caughey SJ, Wyngaard JC, Kaimal JC (1979) Turbulence in the evolving stable boundary layer. J Atmos Sci 36:1041–1052
Grant ALM (1997) An observational study of the evening transition boundary-layer. Q J R Meteorol Soc 123:657–677
Beare RJ, Edwards JM, Lapworth AJ (2006) Simulation of the observed evening transition and nocturnal boundary layers: large-eddy simulation. Q J R Meteorol Soc 132:81–99
Mahrt L (1981) The early evening boundary layer transition. Q J R Meteorol Soc 107:329–343
Taylor GI (1917) The formation of fog and mist. Q J R Meteorol Soc 43:241–268
Richardson LF (1920) The supply of energy from and to atmospheric eddies. Proc R Soc Lond A97:354–373
Acevedo OC, Fitzjarrald DR (2001) The Early Evening Surface-Layer Transition: temporal and Spatial Variability. J Atmos Sci 58:2650–2667
Grimsdell AW, Angevine WM (2002) Observations of the afternoon transition of the convective boundary layer. J Appl Meteorol 41:3–11
Brazel AJ, Fernando HJS, Hurt JCR, Selover N, Hedquist BC, Pardyjak E (2005) Evening transition observations in Phoenix, Arizona. J Appl Meteorol 44:99–112
Edwards JM, Beare RJ, Lapworth AJ (2006) Simulation of the observed evening transition and nocturnal boundary layers: single-column modelling. Q J R Meteorol Soc 132:61–80
Sastre M, Yague C, Roman CC, Maqueda G, Salamanca F, Viana S (2012) Evening transitions of the atmospheric boundary layers: characterization case studies and WRF simulations. Adv Sci Res 8:39–44. doi:10.5194/asr-8-39-2012
Kosovic B, Curry JAA (2000) large eddy simulation study of a quasi-steady stably stratified atmospheric boundary layer. J Atmos Sci 57:1052–1068
Beare RJ, MacVean MK, Holtslag AAM, Cuxart J, Esau I, Golaz J-C, Jimenez MA, Khairoutdinov M, Kosovic B, Lewellen D, Lund TS, Lundquist JK, McCabe A, Moene AF, Noh Y, Raasch S, Sullivan PP (2006) An intercomparison of large-eddy simulations of the stable boundary layer. Bound Layer Meteorol 118:247–272
Noh Y, Cheon WG, Hong S-Y, Raasch S (2003) Improvement of the K-profile model for the planetary boundary layer based on large eddy simulation data. Bound Layer Meteorol 107:401–427
Troen I, Mahrt L (1986) A simple model of the atmospheric boundary layer: sensitivity to surface evaporation. Bound Layer Meteorol 37:129–148
Sharan M, Gopalakrishnan SG (1997) Comparative evaluation of eddy exchange coefficients for strong and weak wind stable boundary layer modeling. J Appl Meteorol 36:545–559
Cuxart J, Holtslag AAM, Beare RJ, Bazile E, Beljaars ACM, Cheng A, Conangla L, Ek MB, Freedman F, Hamdi R, Kerstein A, Kitagawa H, Lenderink G, Lewellen D, Mailhot J, Mauritsen T, Perov V, Schayes G, Steeneveld G-J, Svensson G, Taylor P, Weng W, Wunsch S, Xu K-M (2006) Single-column model intercomparison for a stably stratified atmospheric boundary layer. Bound Layer Meteorol 118:273–303
Steeneveld GJ, van de Wiel BJH, Holtslag AAM (2006) Modeling the evolution of the atmospheric boundary layer coupled to the land surface for three contrasting nights in CASES-99. J Atmos Sci 63:920–935
Mauritsen T, Svensson G, Zilitinkevich SS, Esau I, Enger L, Grisogono B (2007) A total turbulent energy closure model for neutrally and stably stratified atmospheric boundary layers. J Atmos Sci 64:4113–4126
Baas P, Bosveld FC, Lenderink G, van Meijgaard E, Holtslag AAM (2010) How to design single-column model experiments for comparison with observed nocturnal low-level jets. Q J R Meteorol Soc 136:671–684
Kumar V, Svensson G, Holtslag AAM, Meneveau C, Parlange MB (2010) Impact of surface flux formulations and geostrophic forcing on large-eddy simulations of diurnal atmospheric boundary layer flow. J Appl Meteorol Climatol 49:1496–1516. doi:10.1175/2010JAMC2145.1
Bosveld FC, Baas P, Steeneveld G-J, Holtslag AAM, Angevine WM, Bazile E, Bruijn E, Deacu D, Edwards J, Ek M, Larson V, Pleim J, Raschendorfer M, Svensson G (2014) The third GABLS intercomparison case for evaluation studies of boundary-layer models. Part B: results and process understanding. Bound Layer Meteorol 152:157–187. doi:10.1007/s10546-014-9919-1
Carvalho JC, Degrazia GA, Domenico A, Goulart AG, Cuchiara GC, Mortarini L (2010) Simulating the characteristic patterns of the dispersion during sunset PBL. Atmos Res 98:274–284. doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2010.06.009
Clarke RH, Dyer AJ, Brook RR, Reid DG, Troup AJ (1971) The Wangara experiment: boundary layer data. Div Meteorol Phys Tech 19:362
Yamada T, Mellor G (1975) A simulation of the Wangara atmospheric boundary layer data. J Atmos Sci 32:2309–2329
André JC, Moor G, Lacarrere P, Therry G, Vachat R (1978) Modeling the 24-hour evolution of the mean and turbulent structure of the planetary boundary layer. J Atmos Sci 35:1861–1883
Musson-Genon L (1995) Comparison of different simple turbulence closures with a one-dimensional boundary layer model. Mon Weather Rev 123:163–180
Hacker JP, Rostkier-Edelstein D (2007) PBL state estimation with surface observations—a column model, and an ensemble filter. Mon Weather Rev 135:2958–2972. doi:10.1175/MWR3443.1
Skamarock WC, Klemp JB, Dudhia J, Gill DO, Barker DM, Duda MG, Huang H-Y, Wang W, Powers JG (2008) A description of the Advanced Research WRF version 3. NCAR Technical Note NCAR/TN-475STR. 113
McNider RT, Pielke RA (1981) Diurnal boundary-layer development over sloping terrain. J Atmos Sci 38:2198–2212
Hong SY, Dudhia J, Chen SH (2004) A revised approach to ice microphysical processes for the bulk parameterization of clouds and precipitation. Mon Weather Rev 132:103–120
Mlawer EJ, Taubman SJ, Brown PD, Iacono MJ, Clough S (1997) Radiative transfer for inhomogeneous atmospheres: RRTM, a validated correlated-k model for the longwave. J Geophys Res 102:16663–16682
Dudhia J (1989) Numerical study of convection observed during the Winter Monsoon Experiment using a mesoscale two-dimensional model. J Atmos Sci 46:3077–3107
Tewari M, Chen F, Wang W, Dudhia J, LeMone MA, Mitchell K, Ek M, Gayno G, Wegiel GJ, Cuenca RH (2004) Implementation and verification of the unified NOAH land surface model in the WRF model. In: 20th conference on weather analysis and forecasting/16th conference on numerical weather prediction, pp 11–15
Paulson CA (1970) The mathematical representation of wind speed and temperature profiles in the unstable atmospheric surface layer. J Appl Meteorol 9:857–861
Dyer AJ, Hicks BB (1970) Flux-gradient relationships in the constant flux layer. Q J R Meteorol Soc 96:715–721
Webb EK (1970) Profile relationships: the log-linear range, and extension to strong stability. Q J R Meteorol Soc 96:67–90
Zhang D-L, Anthes RA (1982) A high-resolution model of the planetary boundary layer—sensitivity tests and comparisons with SESAME-79 data. J Appl Meteorol 21:1594–1609
Moeng CH, Dudhia J, Klemp J, Sullivan P (2007) Examining two-way grid nesting for large eddy simulation of the PBL using the WRF model. Mon Weather Rev 135:2295–2311. doi:10.1175/MWR3406.1
Lenschow DH, Wyngaard JC, Penell WT (1980) Mean field and second-moment budgets in a baroclinic, convective boundary layer. J Atmos Sci 37:1313–1326
Willis GE, Deardorff JW (1979) Laboratory observations of turbulent penetrative-convection platforms. J Geophys Res 84:295–302
Schmidt H, Schumann U (1989) Coherent structure of the convective boundary layer derived from large-eddy simulations. J Fluid Mech 200:511–562
Nieuwstadt FTM, Mason PJ, Moeng CH, Schumann U (1993) Large-eddy simulation of the convective boundary layer: a comparison of four computer codes. In: Durst F et al (eds) Turbulent shear flows 8, vol 431. Springer, Berlin, pp 343–367. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-77674-8_24
Moeng CH, Sullivan PPA (1994) comparison of shear-and buoyancy-driven planetary boundary layer flows. J Atmos Sci 51:999–1022
Sullivan PP, McWilliams JC, Moeng C-H (1994) A subgrid-scale model for large-eddy simulation of planetary boundary-layer flows. Bound Layer Meteorol 71:247–276. doi:10.1007/BF00713741
Yamaguchi T, Feingold G (2012) Technical note: large-eddy simulation of cloudy boundary layer with the Advanced Research WRF model. J Adv Model Earth Syst 4:M09003. doi:10.1029/2012MS000164
Khairoutdinov MF, Randall DA (2003) Cloud resolving modeling of the ARM summer 1997 IOP: model formulation, results, uncertainties, and sensitivities. J Atmos Sci 60:607–625. doi:10.1175/1520-0469(2003)060<0607:CRMOTA>2.0.CO;2
Monin AS, Obukhov AM (1954) Basic laws of turbulent mixing in the surface layer of the atmosphere. Tr AkadNauk SSSR Geofiz 24:163–187
Wyngaard JC, Coté OR (1974) The evolution of a convective planetary boundary layer—a higher-order-closure model study. Bound Layer Meteorol 7:289–308. doi:10.1007/BF00240833
Sun W-Y, Ogura Y (1980) Modeling the evolution of the convective planetary boundary layer. J Atmos Sci 37:1558–1572
Sun W-Y, Chang C-Z (1986) Diffusion model for a convective layer. Part I: numerical simulation of convective boundary layer. J Clim Appl Meteorol 25:1445–1453
Xue M, Zong J, Drogemeier KK (1996) Parameterization of PBL turbulence in a multi-scale non-hydrostatic model. In: 11th Conference on numerical weather prediction, Norfolk, VA, American Meteor Society, pp 363–365
Hicks BB (1981) An analysis of Wangara micrometeorology: Surface stress, sensible heat, evaporation, and dewfall. NOAA Tech. Memo. ERL ARL-104, NOAA/Air Resources Laboratories, Silver Spring, MD, 36
Basu S, Vinuesa J-F, Swift A (2008) Dynamic LES modeling of a diurnal cycle. J Appl Meteorol Climatol 47:1156–1174. doi:10.1175/2007JAMC1677.1
Rappenglück B, Perna R, Zhong S, Morris GA (2008) An analysis of the vertical structure of the atmosphere and the upper-level meteorology and their impact on surface ozone levels in Houston/TX. J Geophys Res 113:D17315. doi:10.1029/2007JD009745
Mahrt L (1999) Stratified atmospheric boundary layers. Bound-Layer Meteor 90:375–396. doi:10.1023/A:1001765727956
Darbieu C, Lohou F, Lothon M, Vilà-Guerau de Arellano J, Couvereux F, Durand P, Pino D, Patton EG, Nilsson E, Blay-Carreras E, Gioli B (2015) Turbulence vertical structure of the boundary layer during the late afternoon transition. Atmos Chem Phys 15:10071–10086. doi:10.5194/acp-15-10071-2015
Rizza U, Miglietta MM, Degrazia GA, Acevedo OC, Marques EP (2013) Sunset decay of the convective turbulence with large-eddy simulation under realistic conditions. Phys A 392:4481–4490. doi:10.1016/j.physa.2013.05.009
Lothon M, Lohou F, Pino D, Couvreux F, Pardyjak ER, Reuder J, Vilà-Guerau de Arellano J, Durand P, Hartogensis O, Legain D, Augustin P, Gioli B, Lenschow DH, Faloona I, Yagüe C, Alexander DC, Angevine WM, Bargain E, Barrié J, Bazile E, Bezombes Y, Blay-Carreras E, van deBoer A, Boichard JL, Bourdon A, Butet A, Campistron B, de Coster O, Cuxart J, Dabas A, Darbieu C, Deboudt K, Delbarre H, Derrien S, Flament P, Fourmentin M, Garai A, Gibert F, Graf A, Groebner J, Guichard F, Jiménez MA, Jonassen M, van den Kroonenberg A, Magliulo V, Martin S, Martinez D, Mastrorillo L, Moene AF, Molinos F, Moulin E, Pietersen HP, Piguet B, Pique E, RománCascón C, Rufin-Soler C, Saïd F, Sastre-Marugán M, Seity Y, Steeneveld GJ, Toscano P, Traullé O, Tzanos D, Wacker S, Wildmann N, Zaldei A (2014) The BLLAST field experiment: boundary-Layer Late Afternoon and Sunset Turbulence. Atmos Chem Phys 14:10931–10960. doi:10.5194/acp-14-10931-2014
Shaw WJ, Barnard JC (2002) Scales of turbulence decay from observations and direct numerical simulations. In: Proceedings of the 15th symposium on boundary layers and turbulence, 15–19 July 2002, Wageningen
Sorbjan Z (1997) Decay of convective turbulence revisited. Bound Layer Meteorol 82:503–517. doi:10.1023/A:1000231524314
Nadeau DF, Pardyjak ER, Higgins CW, Fernando HJS, Parlange MB (2011) A simple model for the afternoon and early evening decay of convective turbulence over different land surfaces. Bound Layer Meteorol 141:301–324
Nieuwstadt FTM, Brost RA (1986) The decay of convective turbulence. J Atmos Sci 43:532–546
Hong SY, Noh Y, Dudhia J (2006) A new vertical diffusion package with an explicit treatment of entrainment processes. Mon Weather Rev 134:2318–2341. doi:10.1175/MWR3199.1
Foken T (2006) 50 years of the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory. Bound Layer Meteorol 119:431–447. doi:10.1007/s10546-006-9048-6
Nielsen-Gammon J, Hu X, Zhang F, Pleim J (2010) Evaluation of planetary boundary layer scheme sensitivities for the purpose of parameter estimation. Mon Weather Rev 138:3400–3417. doi:10.1175/2010MWR3292.1
Nieuwstadt FTM (1984) The turbulent structure of the stable, nocturnal boundary layer. J Atmos Sci 41:2202–2216
Degrazia GA, Anfossi D, Carvalho JC, Mangia C, Tirabassi T (2000) Turbulence parameterization for PBL dispersion models in all stability conditions. Atmos Environ 34:3575–3583
Garrat JR (1992) The Atmospheric Boundary Layer. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Goulart AG, Vilhena M, Degrazia G, Flores D (2007) Vertical, Lateral and longitudinal eddy diffusivities for a decaying turbulence in the convective boundary layer. Ecol Model 204:516–522. doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2007.02.004
Kristensen L, Lenschow D, Kirkegaard P, Courtney M (1989) The spectral velocity tensor for homogeneous boundary layer. Bound Layer Meteorol 47:149–193. doi:10.1007/BF00122327
Miao JF, Chen D, Wyser K, Borne K, Lindgren J, Strandevall MKS, Thorsson S, Achberger C, Almkvist E (2008) Evaluation of MM5 mesoscale model at local scale for air quality applications over the Swedish west coast: influence of PBL and LSM parameterizations. Meteorol Atmos Phys 99:77–103. doi:10.1007/s00703-007-0267-2
Hu X-M, Klein PM, Xue M (2013) Evaluation of the updated YSU planetary boundary layer scheme within WRF for wind resource and air quality assessments. J Geophys Res 118:10490–10505. doi:10.1002/jgrd.50823
Wang C, Jin S (2014) Error features and their possible causes in simulated low-level winds by WRF at a wind farm. Wind Energy 17:1315–1325. doi:10.1002/we.1635
Zhang H, Pu Z, Zhang X (2013) Examination of errors in near-surface temperature and wind from WRF numerical simulations in regions of complex terrain. Weather Forecast 28:893–914. doi:10.1175/WAF-D-12-00109.1
Ngan F, Kim H, Lee P, Al-Wali K, Dornblaser B (2013) A study of nocturnal surface wind speed overprediction by the WRF-ARW model in Southeastern Texas. J.Appl Meteorol Climatol 52:2638–2653. doi:10.1175/JAMC-D-13-060.1
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the financial support provided by Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). Anna Fitch at NCAR is acknowledged for providing updated WRF LES packages for WRF version 3.6.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cuchiara, G.C., Rappenglück, B. Single-column model and large eddy simulation of the evening transition in the planetary boundary layer. Environ Fluid Mech 17, 777–798 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-017-9518-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-017-9518-z