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Large-Eddy Simulation Of The Stably Stratified Planetary Boundary Layer

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Abstract

In this work, we study the characteristics of a stably stratifiedatmospheric boundary layer using large-eddy simulation (LES).In order to simulate the stable planetary boundary layer, wedeveloped a modified version of the two-part subgrid-scalemodel of Sullivan et al. This improved version of themodel is used to simulate a highly cooled yet fairly windy stableboundary layer with a surface heat flux of(Wθ)o = -0.05 m K s-1and a geostrophic wind speed of Ug = 15 m s-1.Flow visualization and evaluation of the turbulencestatistics from this case reveal the development ofa continuously turbulent boundary layer with small-scalestructures. The stability of the boundary layercoupled with the presence of a strong capping inversionresults in the development of a dominant gravity wave atthe top of the stable boundary layer that appears to be relatedto the most unstable wave predicted by the Taylor–Goldsteinequation. As a result of the decay of turbulence aloft,a strong-low level jet forms above the boundary layer.The time dependent behaviour of the jet is compared with Blackadar'sinertial oscillation analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center for Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, Colorado, 80307-3000, U.S.A.

    Eileen M. Saiki, Chin-Hoh Moeng & Peter P. Sullivan

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  1. Eileen M. Saiki
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  2. Chin-Hoh Moeng
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  3. Peter P. Sullivan
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Saiki, E.M., Moeng, CH. & Sullivan, P.P. Large-Eddy Simulation Of The Stably Stratified Planetary Boundary Layer. Boundary-Layer Meteorology 95, 1–30 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1002428223156

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