Abstract
Sodar measurements are used to study the layer-averaged winds in the unstable Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL). The field data are from the öresund experiment which was carried out over öresund, the strait between Denmark and Sweden during the period May 15 to June 14 1984. A simple resistance law proposed by Garratt et al. (1982) is used to derive friction velocity from sodar measurements of the mean wind. This was found to be in very good agreement with observations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arya, S. P. S.: 1977, ‘Suggested Revisions to Certain Boundary Layer Parametrization Schemes Used in Atmospheric Circulation Models’, Mon. Wea. Rev. 105, 215–227.
Arya, S. P. S. and Wyngaard, J. C.: 1975, ‘Effect of Baroclinity on Wind Profiles and the Geostrophic Drag Law for the Convective Planetary Boundary Layer’, J. Atmos. Sci. 32, 767–778.
Asimakopoulos, D. N., Moulsley, T. J., Helmis, C. G., Lalas, D. P., and Gaynor, J.: 1983, ‘Quantitative Low-Level Acoustic Sounding and Comparison with Direct Measurements’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 27, 1–26.
Bergström, H., Johansson, P., and Smedman, A.: 1988, ‘A Study of Wind Speed Modification and Internal Boundary-Layer Heights in a Coastal Region’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 42, 313–335.
Deardorff, J. W.: 1972a ‘Numerical Investigation of Neutral and Unstable Planetary Boundary Layer’, J. Atmos. Sci. 29, 91–115.
Deardorff, J. W.: 1972b ‘Parametrization of the Planetary Boundary Layer for use in General Circulation Models’, Mon. Wea. Rev. 100, 93–106.
Ericson, K.: ‘The öresund Experiment, Meteorological Measurements Performed May 15, 1984 to June 15, 1984 by the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute’. SMHI METEOROLOGY 52, Norrköping, Sweden.
Garratt, J. R., Wyngaard, J. C., and Francey, R. J.: 1982, ‘Winds in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer — Prediction and Observation’, J. Atmos. Sci. 39, 1307–1316.
Gryning, S. E.: 1985, ‘The öresund Experiment — A Nordic Mesoscale Dispersion Experiment over a Land-Water-Land Area’, Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 66, 1403–1407.
Högström, U.: 1988, ‘Non-dimensional Wind and Temperature Profiles in the Atmospheric Surface Layer: Reevaluated’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 42, 55–78.
Kaimal, J. C., Wyngaard, J. C., Haugen, D. A., Cote, O. R., Izumi, Y., Caughey, S. J., and Readings, C. J.: 1976, ‘Turbulence Structure in the Convective Boundary Layer’, J. Atmos. Sci. 33, 2152–2169.
Keder, J., Foken, T. H., Gerstmann, W., and Schindler, V.: 1989, ‘Measurements of the Wind Parameters and Heat Flux with the Sensitron Doppler Sodar’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 46, 195–204.
Melas, D.: 1989, ‘The Temperature Structure in a Stably Stratified Internal Boundary-Layer over a Cold Sea’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 48, 361–375.
Melas, D.: 1990a, ‘A Field Study of the Layer-averaged Winds in the Unstable Planetary Boundary-Layer’, Ph.D. Thesis, Part V. Department of Meteorology, Uppsala University.
Melas, D.: 1990b, ‘Sodar Estimates of the Surface Heat Flux and Mixed Layer Depth Compared with Direct Measurements’, Atmospheric Environment 24A, 2847–2853.
Salomonsson, S.: 1985, ‘The Performance of the Sodars used in the öresund Experiment’, Report No 83, Department of Meteorology, Uppsala University.
Tennekes, H.: 1982 ‘Similarity Relations, Scaling Laws and Spectral Dynamics’, in F. T. Nieuwstadt and H. van Dop (eds.), Atmospheric Turbulence and Air Pollution Modeling, D. Reidel, Dordrecht, pp. 37–68.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The author is currently doing his military service in the Greek army.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Melas, D. Using a simple resistance law to estimate friction velocity from sodar measurements. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 57, 275–287 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00120888
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00120888