Abstract
An attempt is made to construct a model, coupling land surface and atmospheric processes in the planetary boundary layer (PBL). A grassland strip in a semi-desert (hereinafter called desert) is presupposed, so as to simulate the case of heterogeneous vegetation cover.
Modeling results indicate that every term in the equation of the surface energy balance changes as the air flows over the grassland. The striking contrast of water and energy conditions between the grassland and the desert means that the air over the grassland is cooler and wetter than that over the desert. Consequently, in the heating and dynamic forcing of the air by the underlying surface, heterogeneities arise and are then transferred upward by the turbulent motions. Horizontal differences thus develop in the PBL, resulting in a local circulation. Meanwhile, the horizontal differences affect the free atmosphere through vertical motion at the top of the PBL.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- d 1,d 2,d 3 :
-
depths of surface, middle and lower layers of soil
- T c ,T 1,T 2,T 3 :
-
temperatures of canopy, surface, middle and lower layers of soil
- R nc :
-
net radiation of canopy layer
- σc :
-
shielding factor of vegetation
- Ew, Etc :
-
evaporation from wet fraction of foliage and transpiration from dry fraction of foliage
- Et 1,Et 2 :
-
transpiration of foliage water absorbed by the root in the upper and lower soil, respectively
- H c :
-
sensible heat of canopy
- P c ,D c :
-
precipitation rate and drainage of canopy
- C s ,C c ,C w :
-
heat capacity of soil, canopy and water
- ρ w , ρ s :
-
density of water and air near the surface
- D :
-
hydraulic permeability of soil
- θ s :
-
saturated value of the ratio of volumetric soil moisture
- S g , α g :
-
solar radiation and surface reflection
- H g ,R L g :
-
turbulent heat flux and long wave radiation of surface
- P g ,E g :
-
precipitation rate and evaporation of soil surface
- K s :
-
soil thermal diffusivity
- K (m),K (H),K (q) :
-
eddy coefficients of momentum, heat and moisture
- u, v, w :
-
components of wind speed in three directions
- δ:
-
air potential temperature
- e :
-
turbulent kinetic energy
- p :
-
atmospheric pressure
- C p :
-
specific heat of air under constant pressure
- R d :
-
gas constant
- u * :
-
friction velocity
- θ* :
-
feature temperature
- h :
-
height of the PBL
- f :
-
Coriolis parameter
- L 0 :
-
Monin-Obukhov length
- λ:
-
latent heat of vaporization
- q :
-
specific humidity
- M c ,M cm :
-
interception water storage of canopy and its maximum
- π0 :
-
Exner number of largescale background field
- π:
-
perturbation Exner number
- u g ,v g :
-
components of the geostrophic wind speed
References
André, J. C. et al.: 1978, ‘Modeling the Hourly Evolution of the Mean and Turbulent Structures of the Planetary Boundary Layer’,J. Atmos. Sci. 35, 1867–1883.
Clarke, R. H. et al.: 1971, ‘The Wangara Experiment Boundary Layer Data’, Paper No. 19, Division Meteorological Physics, CSIRO, Australia.
Deardoff, J. W.: 1974, ‘Three-Dimensional Study of the Height and Structure of a Heated Planetary Boundary Layer’,Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 1, 199–226.
Deardoff, J. W.: 1978, ‘Efficient Prediction of Ground Surface Temperature and Moisture with Inclusion of a Layer of Vegetation’,J. Geophys. Res. 83(4), 1889–1903.
Diak, G. et al.: 1986, ‘The Influence of Variation in Surface Treatment on 24-hour Forecasts with a Limited Area Model, Including a Comparison of Modeled and Satellite Measured Surface Temperature’,Mon. Wea. Rev. 114, 215–232.
Dickinson, R. E.: 1984, ‘Modeling Evapotranspiration for Three-Dimensional Global Climate Model's, in J. E. Hansen and T. Takashashi (eds.),Climate Processes and Climate Sensitivity, Geophysical Monograph 29, pp. 58–72.
Garrett, A. J.: 1982, ‘A Parameter Study of Interaction between Convective Clouds, the Convective Boundary Layer and a Forested Surface’,Mon. Wea. Rev. 110, 1041–1059.
Ji Jinjun et al.: 1989a, ‘A Simple Land Surface Process Model for Use in Climate Study’,Acta Meteorologica Sinica 3, 344–353.
Ji Jinjun et al.: 1989b, ‘Sensitivity Experiments of the Land Surface Proces Model’,Scientia Atmospherica Sinica,13(3), 265–272.
Mahfouf, J. F. et al.: 1987, ‘The Influence of Soil and Vegetation on Development of Mesoscale Circulation’,J. Appl. Meteorol. 26, 1483–1495.
McCumber, M. C. and Pielke: 1981, ‘Simulation of the Effects of Surface Eluxes of Heat and Moisture in a Mesoscale Numerical Model, Part 1, Soil Layer’,J. Geophys. Res. 86, 9929–9938.
Segal, M. et al.: 1988, ‘Evaluation of Vegetation Effects on the Generation and Modification of Mesoscale Circulation’,J. Atmos. Sci. 45, 2268–2292.
Su Congxian and Hu Yingiao: 1987a, ‘An Observed Study on the Heat Balance’,Plateau Meteorology 6(3), 217–224.
Su Congxian and Hu Yingiao: 1987b, ‘Microclimate Characteristics and “Cold Island Effect” over the Oasis in the Hexi Region’,Chinese J. Atmos. Sci. 11, 443–451.
Therry, G. and Lacarrere, D.: 1983, ‘Improving the Eddy Kinetic Energy Model for Planetary Boundary Layer Description’,Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 25, 63–68.
Yamada, T. and Mellor, G.: 1975, ‘A Simulation of the Wangara Atmospheric Boundary Layer Data’,J. Atmos. Sci. 32, 2309–2329.
Yan, H. and R. A. Anthes: 1987, ‘The Effect of Variations in Surface Moisture on Mesoscale Circulations’,Mon. Wea. Rev. 116, 192–208.
Zhang, D. and R. A. Anthes: 1982: ‘A High-Resolution Model of the Planetary Boundary Layer Sensitivity Levels and Comparisons with SESAME-78 Data’,J. Appl. Meteorol. 21, 1549–1609.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Manqian, M., Jinjun, J. A coupled model on land-atmosphere interactions — Simulating the characteristics of the PBL over a heterogeneous surface. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 66, 247–264 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00705477
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00705477