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A comparison of surface renewal theory with the observed roughness length for temperature on a melting glacier surface

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Abstract

The roughness lengths for momentum and temperature are calculated using the profile method on amelting glacier surface. Data from a 5-level 9-m meteorological mastpositioned near the edge of Breidamerkurjökull, an outlet glacier of the Vatnajökull ice cap Iceland, are used for the calculations. The data are selected to avoid the presence of the katabatic wind speedmaximum which would otherwise alter the scaling laws of the surface layer. The surface roughness length for momentum is determined to be 1.0 mm, similar to other estimates made on flat melting ice surfaces. The surface roughness length for temperature is found to be in good agreement with previously proposed surface renewal theories for the observed roughness Reynolds number range of 30 * 70.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge University, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1ER, UK

    Bruce Denby

  2. Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (IMAU), Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Henk Snellen

Authors
  1. Bruce Denby
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  2. Henk Snellen
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Denby, B., Snellen, H. A comparison of surface renewal theory with the observed roughness length for temperature on a melting glacier surface. Boundary-Layer Meteorology 103, 459–468 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014933111873

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014933111873

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