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Geometric similarity for the temperature field in the unstable atmospheric surface layer

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Abstract

Davenport's geometric similarity is applied to the temperature field in the unstable atmospheric surface layer for displacements in all three orthogonal directions. The decay constants for lateral displacements are over 50 times as large as for vertical displacements. Such large lateral decay constants mean that the measurement of longitudinal constants will be very difficult.

Some of the assumptions inherent in geometric similarity were not satisfied. Two regimes, plume scales and larger scales, having different decay constants, were observed. The possibility of a similar scale dependency of the decay constants for the wind field is discussed.

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Davison, D.S. Geometric similarity for the temperature field in the unstable atmospheric surface layer. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 10, 167–180 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00229283

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