Boundary-Layer Meteorology

, Volume 14, Issue 3, pp 323–330 | Cite as

Aerodynamic roughness as a function of wind direction over asymmetric surface elements

  • B. S. Jackson
  • J. J. Carroll
Article
First Online:
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Abstract

Wind speed and temperature profiles to a height of 8 m were recorded for 30-, 60-, and 90-min averaging times over a striated snow surface at the geographic South Pole during the austral winter of 1975. A gradient Richardson number was calculated for each averaging time to determine conditions of neutral stability under which the logarithmic wind law would hold. A log-linear regression technique was used to determine values of aerodynamic roughness height (Z0) for those profile averages recorded in conditions of neutral stability. A plot of Z0 as a function of average wind direction revealed a variation in Z0 of almost three orders of magnitude, from 0.01 to 7 cm, over 120 deg of wind direction. A simple model is presented to justify the fact that aerodynamic roughness is a function of wind direction and erosion history.

Keywords

Wind Speed Wind Direction Richardson Number Surface Element Average Wind 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© D. Reidel Publishing Company 1978

Authors and Affiliations

  • B. S. Jackson
    • 1
  • J. J. Carroll
    • 1
  1. 1.Dept. of Land, Air and Water Resources, Atmospheric Science SectionUniversity of CaliforniaDavisUSA

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