Skip to main content
Log in

Laboratory and Numerical Studies of the Convective Boundary Layer Capped by a Strong Inversion

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

Abstract

The convective boundary layer (CBL) with a wide range of stability is simulated experimentally using a thermally stratified wind tunnel, and numerically by direct numerical simulation (DNS). The turbulence structures and flow characteristics of various CBL flows, capped by a strong temperature inversion and affected by surface shear, are investigated. The various vertical profiles of turbulence statistics similar to those from the observed CBL in the field are successfully simulated in both the wind-tunnel experiment and in DNS. The comparison of the wind-tunnel data and DNS results with those of atmospheric observations and water-tank studies shows the crucial dependence of the turbulence statistics in the upper part of the layer on the strength of the inversion layer, as well as the modification of the CBL turbulence regime by the surface shear.

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

  • Arya, S. P. S.: 1982, ‘Atmospheric Boundary Layers over Homogeneous Terrain’, in E. Plate (ed.), Engineering Meteorology, Elsevier, pp. 237–267.

  • Caughey, S. J.: 1984, ‘Observed Characteristics of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer’, in F. T. M. Nieuwstadt and H. van Dop (eds.), Atmospheric Turbulence and Air Pollution Modelling, D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, pp.107–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caughey, S. J. and Palmer, S. G.: 1979, ‘Some Aspects of Turbulence Structure through the Depth of the Convective Boundary Layer’, Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 105, 811–827.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fedorovich, E. and Kaiser, R.: 1998, ‘Wind Tunnel Model Study of Turbulence Regime in the Atmospheric Convective Boundary Layer’, in E. J. Plate et al. (eds.), Buoyant Convection in Geophysical Flows, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp. 327–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fedorovich, E., Kaiser, R., Rau, M., and Plate, E.: 1996, ‘Wind Tunnel Study of Turbulent Flow Structure in the Convective Boundary Layer Capped by a Temperature Inversion’, J. Atmos. Sci. 53, 1273–1289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fedorovich, E., Nieuwstadt, F. T. M., and Kaiser, R.: 2001a, ‘Numerical and Laboratory Study of a Horizontally Evolving Convective Boundary Layer. Part I: Transition Regimes and Development of the Mixed Layer’, J. Atmos. Sci. 58, 70–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fedorovich, E., Nieuwstadt, F. T. M., and Kaiser, R.: 2001b, ‘Numerical and Laboratory Study of a Horizontally Evolving Convective Boundary Layer. Part II: Effects of Elevated Wind Shear and Surface Roughness’, J. Atmos. Sci. 58, 546–560.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hibbered, M. F. and Sawford, B. L.: 1994, ‘A Saline Laboratory Model of the Planetary Convective Boundary Lyaer’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 67, 229–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaimal, J. C., Wyngaard, J. C., Haugen, D. A., Cote, O. R., Izumi, Y., Caughey, S. J., and Readings, C. J.: 1976, ‘Turbulence Structure in a Convective Boundary Layer’, J. Atmos. Sci. 33, 2152–2169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meroney, R. N. and Melbourne, W. H.: 1992, ‘Operating Ranges of Meteorological Wind Tunnels for the Simulation of Convective Boundary Layer (CBL) Phenomena’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 61, 145–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meroney, R. N., Cermak, L. E., and Yang, B. T.: 1975, ‘Modeling of Atmospheric Transport and Fumigation at Shoreline Sites’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 9, 69–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ogawa, Y., Diosey, P. G., Uehara, K., and Ueda, H.: 1981, ‘A Wind Tunnel for Studying the Effects of Thermal Stratification in the Atmosphere’, Atmos. Environ. 15(5), 807–821.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ogawa, Y., Griffiths, R., and Hoydysh, W. G.: 1975, ‘A Wind-Tunnel Study of Sea Breeze Effects’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 8, 141–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ohya, Y.: 2001, ‘Wind Tunnel Study of Atmospheric Stable Boundary Layers over a Rough Surface’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 98, 57–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ohya, Y. and Uchida, T.: 1999, ‘Wind Tunnel Study and DNS of Stable Boundary Layers and Convective Boundary Layers in the Atmosphere’, in S. Banerjee and J. K. Eaton (eds.), Turbulence and Shear Flow Phenomena, Vol. 1, Begell House, pp. 589–594.

  • Ohya, Y. and Uchida, T.: 2003, ‘Turbulence Structure of Stable Boundary Layers with a Near-Linear Temperature Profile’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 108, 19–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ohya, Y., Neff, D. E., and Meroney, R. N.: 1997, ‘Turbulence Structure in a Stratified Boundary Layer under Stable Conditions’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 83, 139–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ohya, Y., Tatuno, M., Nakamura, Y., and Ueda, H.: 1996, ‘A Thermally Stratified Wind Tunnel for Environmental Flow Studies’, Atmos. Environ. 30(16), 2881–2887.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poreh, M. and Cermak, J.: 1984, ‘Wind Tunnel Simulation of Diffusion in a Convective Boundary Layer’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 68, 301–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rey, C., Schon, J. P., and Mathieu, J.: 1979, ‘Buoyancy Effects in a Wind Tunnel Simulation of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer’, Phys. Fluids 22, 1020–1028.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sada, K.: 1996, ‘Wind Tunnel Experiment on Flow and Tracer Gas Diffusion in Convective Planetary Boundary Layer’, JSME Int. J. B-Fluid T. 39, 19–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stull, R. B.: 1988, An Introduction to Boundary Layer Meteorology, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 666 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uchida, T. and Ohya, Y.: 1999, ‘Numerical Simulation of Atmospheric flow over Complex Terrain’, J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerodyn. 81, 283–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willis, G. E. and Deardorff, J. W.: 1974, ‘A Laboratory Model of the Unstable Planetary Boundary Layer’, J. Atmos. Sci. 31, 1297–1307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wyngaard, J. C.: 1992, ‘Atmospheric Turbulence’, Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech. 24, 205–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ohya, Y., Uchida, T. Laboratory and Numerical Studies of the Convective Boundary Layer Capped by a Strong Inversion. Boundary-Layer Meteorology 112, 223–240 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BOUN.0000027913.22130.73

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BOUN.0000027913.22130.73

Navigation