Skip to main content
Log in

Two-Point Properties Of Atmospheric Turbulence Very Close To The Ground: Comparison Of A High Resolution Les With Theoretical Models

  • Published:
Boundary-Layer Meteorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Using the tools of large-eddy simulation (LES), rapid distortion theory andEulerian kinematic simulation, two-point properties of turbulenceare studied. It is shown how the boundary conditions in thepresent LES model are fully consistent with the new top-down understanding ofatmospheric turbulence close to the ground, wherethe turbulence is analysed in terms of turbulent eddies impinging ontothe ground, being distorted by the shear and the blocking by the wall,and experiencing the creation of an internal boundary layer within aneddy surface layer (ESL) with a height of a dozen metres.The question of very large streamwise structures is addressed, and itis shown that the k-1 range measured in spectra for the streamwisevelocity in the ESL in several recent field experiments can be found in LES, and corresponds to streaky structures. However, thesestreaky structures are different from the low Reynolds number streaks,which induce a k-2 range in the spectrum. Finally, two-point verticalcorrelations are studied. In particular, effects of shear and of the slope of thespectrum are analysed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adrian, R. J., Meinhart, C. D., and Tomkins, C. D.: 2000, 'Vortex Organisation in the Outer Region of the Turbulent Boundary Layer', J. Fluid Mech. 422, 1–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Batchelor, G. K.: 1953, The Theory of Homogenous Turbulence, Cambridge University Press, 197 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlotti, P.: 2001, Distorted Turbulence Near Rigid Boundaries, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Cambridge.

  • Cuxart, J., Bougeault, Ph., and Redelsperger, J. L.: 2000, 'A Multiscale Turbulence Scheme Apt for LES and Mesoscale Modelling', Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 126, 1–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foster, R. C. and Drobinski, P.: 2000, 'Near Surface Streaks: Comparison of LES with Theory', in 14th Symposium on Boundary Layer and Turbulence, Aspen, Colorado, August 2000, American Meteorological Society, pp. 499-502.

  • Fuehrer, P. L. and Friehe, C. A.: 1999, 'A Physically-Based Turbulent Velocity Time Series Decomposition', Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 90, 241–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant, H. L.: 1958, 'The Large Eddies of Turbulent Motion', J. Fluid Mech. 4, 149–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Högström, U., Hunt, J. C. R., and Smedman, A. S.: 2002, 'Theory and Measurements for Two Point Turbulence Statistics in the High Reynolds Number Neutral Surface Layer', Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 103, 101–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, J. C. R.: 1984, 'Turbulence Structure in Thermal Convection and Shear-Free Boundary Layers', J. Fluid Mech. 138, 161–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, J. C. R. and Carlotti, P.: 2001, 'Statistical Structure of the High Reynolds Number Turbulent Boundary Layer', Flow, Turbulence Combust. 66, 453–475.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, J. C. R. and Graham, J.M. R.: 1978, Free-Stream Turbulence Near Plane Boundaries', J. Fluid Mech. 84, 209–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, J. C. R. and Morrison, J. F.: 2000, 'Eddy Structure in Turbulent Boundary Layers', Eur. J. Mech. B19, 673–694.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, J. C. R., Moin, P., Lee, M., Moser, R. D., Spalart, P., Mansour, N. N., Kaimal, J. C., and Gaynor, E.: 1989, 'Cross Correlation and Length Scales in Turbulent Flows Near Surfaces', in H. H. Fernholz and H. E. Fiedler (eds.), Advances in Turbulence, Volume 2, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 128–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, K. C. and Adrian, R. J.: 1999, 'Very Large-Scale Motion in the Outer Layer', Phys. Fluids 11, 417–422.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, M. J. and Hunt, J. C. R.: 1989, 'The Structure of Sheared Turbulence Near a Plane Boundary', in 7th Symposium on Turbulent Shear Flows, Stanford, pp. 8.1.pp1-8.1.6.

  • Mann, J.: 1994, 'The Spatial Structure of Neutral Atmospheric Surface Layer Turbulence', J. Fluid Mech. 273, 141–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, P. A.: 1994, 'Large Eddy Simulation: A Critical Review of the Technique', Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 120, 1–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxey, M. R.: 1982, 'Distortion of Turbulence in Flows with Parallel Streamlines', J. Fluid Mech. 124, 261–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moffatt, H. K.: 1967, 'Interaction of Turbulence with Strong Wind Shear', in A. M. Yaglom and V. I. Tatarski (eds.), Proceedings of the URSI-IUGG International Colloquium on Atmospheric Turbulence and Radio Wave Propagation, Nauka, Moscow, pp. 139–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry, A. E., Henbest, S., and Chong, M. S.: 1986, 'A Theoretical and Experimental Study of Wall Turbulence', J. Fluid Mech. 165, 163–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porté-Agel, F., Meneveau, Ch., and Parlange, M. B.: 2000, 'A Scale-Dependent Dynamic Model for Large-Eddy Simulation: Application to a Neutral Atmospheric Boundary Layer', J. Fluid Mech. 415, 261–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Redelsperger, J. L., Mahé, F., and Carlotti, P.: 2001, 'A Simple and General Approach Enabling Subgrid Models to be Suitable Both for Surface Layer and Free Stream Turbulence', Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 101, 375–408.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards, P. J., Fong, S., and Hoxey, R. P.: 1997, 'Anisotropic Turbulence in the Atmospheric Surface Layer', J. Wind Eng. Indust. Aerodyn. 69-71, 903–913.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, H. and Schumman, U.: 1989, 'Coherent Structures of the Convective Boundary Layer Derived from Large Eddy Simulation', J. Fluid Mech. 200, 511–562.

    Google Scholar 

  • Townsend, A. A.: 1976, The Structure of Turbulent Shear Flow, Cambridge University Press, 429 pp.

  • Turfus, C. and Hunt, J. C. R.: 1987, 'A Stochastic Analysis of the Displacements of Fluid Elements in Inhomogeneous Turbulence Using Kraichnan's Method of Random Modes', in G. Comte-Bellot and J. Mathieu (eds.), Advances in Turbulence, Springer Verlag, pp. 191–203.

  • Yaglom, A. M.: 1991, 'Similarity Laws for Wall Turbulence Flows', in T. Dracos and A. Tsinober (eds.), New Approaches and Concept in Turbulence, Monte Verità, Birkhäuser, pp. 7–27.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Carlotti, P. Two-Point Properties Of Atmospheric Turbulence Very Close To The Ground: Comparison Of A High Resolution Les With Theoretical Models. Boundary-Layer Meteorology 104, 381–410 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016544705265

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016544705265

Navigation