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A quantitative method for estimating Pasquill stability class from windspeed and sensible heat flux density

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Abstract

A simple exponential expression, based upon a form of the Kazanski-Monin stability parameter, modified to account explicitly for effects of surface roughness, and semi-empirically derived from both qualitative and quantitative observations, is presented that relates windspeed and sensible heat flux density to Pasquill stability class. The method, though simple in mathematical form, gives results consistent with physical intuition and reproduces, quantitatively, the essential features of previously published nomograms with an added capability for treating all stability classes and any surface roughness from 0.10 to 100 cm. For the stable classes, a new expression for the wind profile stability factor, predicted by similarity theory, is introduced that produces results more consistent than the more common linear form.

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Sutherland, R.A., Hansen, F.V. & Bach, W.D. A quantitative method for estimating Pasquill stability class from windspeed and sensible heat flux density. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 37, 357–369 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00117483

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00117483

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