Abstract
We consider the structure of the stable boundary layer using the concept of local scaling. In this scaling approach turbulence variables, non-dimensionalized with measurements taken at the same height, can be expressed as a function of a single parameter z/Λ, where z is the height and Λ a local Obukhov length. One of the consequences is that locally scaled variables become constant above the surface layer. This behavior is illustrated with observations of the Richardson number. With local scaling as a closure hypothesis we then formulate a model of the stable boundary layer. Its solution for steady-state conditions is given. One result we obtain is the well-known Zilitinkevich equation for the boundary-layer height. A comparison of this equation with observations results in a reasonable agreement. Also we discuss some alternative expressions for the stable boundary-layer height and compare them with observations. Another result of our model is an explicit profile for the K-coefficient as a quadratic function of height. We discuss the consequences of this expression for the dispersion of a point source emission. We find that the time scale of diffusion in this case is about 5 hours.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
André, J.C.: 1983, ‘On the variability of the nocturnal boundary-layer depth’, J. Atmos. Sci. 40, 2309–2311.
André, J.C. and Mahrt, L.: 1982, ‘The nocturnal surface inversion and influence of clear-air radiative cooling’, J. Atmos. Sci. 39, 864–878.
Arya, S.P.S.: 1981: ‘Parameterizing the height of the stable atmospheric boundary layer’, J. Appl. Meteorol. 20, 1192–1202.
Brost, R.A. and Wyngaard, J.C.: 1978, ‘A model study of the stably stratified planetary boundary layer’, J. Atmos. Sci. 35, 1427–1440.
Businger, J.A., Wyngaard, J.C., Izumi, Y., and Bradley, F.F.: 1971, ‘Flux profile relationships in the atmospheric surface layer’, J. Atmos. Sci. 28, 181–189.
Businger, J.A.: 1982, ‘Equations and concepts’, Atmospheric Turbulence and Air Pollution Modelling, F.T.M. Nieuwstadt and H. van Dop (eds.) D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland.
Caughey, S.J. and Readings, C.J.: 1975, ‘An observation of waves and turbulence in the earth's boundary layer’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 9, 279–296.
Caughey, S.J., Wyngaard, J.C. and Kaimal, J.C.: 1979, ‘Turbulence in the evolving stable boundary layer’, J. Atmos. Sci., 36, 1041–1052.
Dyer, A.J.: 1974, ‘A Review of flux-profile relationships’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 7, 363–372.
Einaudi, F. and Finnigan, J.J.: 1981, ‘The interaction between an internal gravity wave and the planetary boundary layer. Part I: The linear analysis’, Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 107, 793–806.
Garratt, J.R. and Brost, R.A.: 1981, ‘Radiative cooling effects within and above the nocturnal boundary layer’, J. Atmos. Sci., 2730–2746.
Garratt, J.R.: 1982a, ‘Observations in the nocturnal boundary layer’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 22, 21–48.
Garratt, J.R.: 1982b, ‘Surface fluxes and the nocturnal boundary-layer height’, J. Appl. Meteorol. 21, 725–729.
Hunt, J.C.R.: 1982, ‘Diffusion in the stable boundary layer’, Atmospheric Turbulence and Air Pollution Modelling, F.T.M. Nieuwstadt and H. van Dop (eds.) D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht Holland.
Hunt, J.C.R., Kaimal, J.C., Gaynor, J.E. and Korrell, A.: 1983, ‘Observations of turbulence structure in stable layers at the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory’. Studies of Nocturnal Stable Layers at BAO, J.C. Kaimal (ed.), NOAA/ERL, Boulder.
Keisuke, F., Masamomoto, N., and Ueda, H.: 1983, ‘A laboratory experiment on momentum and heat transfer in the stratified surface layer’, Quart. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 109, 661–676.
Kerman, B.R.: 1979, ‘A similarity model for maximum ground-level concentration in a height-invariant, stably stratified atmospheric boundary layer’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 17, 297–313.
Kondo, J., Kanechika, O. and Yasuda, N.: 1978, ‘Heat and momentum transfer under strong stability in the atmospheric surface layer’, J. Atmos. Sci. 35, 1012–1021.
Mahrt, L.: 1981, ‘Modelling the depth of the stable boundary-layer’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 21, 3–19.
Mahrt, L. and Heald, R.C.: 1979, ‘Comments on determining height of the nocturnal boundary layer’, J. Appl. Meteorol. 36, 383.
Mahrt, L., Heald, R.C., Lenschow, D.H. and Stankov, B.B.: 1979, ‘An observational study of the structure of the nocturnal boundary layer’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 17, 247–264.
Mahrt, L., André, J.C. and Heald, R.C.: 1982, ‘On the depth of the nocturnal boundary layer’, J. Appl. Meteorol. 21, 90–92.
McPhee, M.: 1981, ‘An analytic similarity theory for the planetary boundary layer stabilized by surface buoyancy’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 21, 325–339.
Monin, A.S. and Yaglom, A.M.: 1971, ‘Statistical Fluid Mechanics. Vol. I’, M.I.T. Press, Cambridge, Mass.
Nai-Ping, L., Neff, W.D. and Kaimal, J.C.: 1983, ‘Wave and turbulence structure in a disturbed nocturnal inversion’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 26, 141–155.
Nieuwstadt, F.T.M.: 1981, ‘The steady-state height and resistance laws of the nocturnal boundary layer: Theory compared with Cabauw observations’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 20, 3–17.
Nieuwstadt, F.T.M.: 1984a, ‘The turbulent structure of the stable nocturnal boundary layer’, submitted to J. Atmos. Sci.
Nieuwstadt, F.T.M.: 1984b, ‘A model for the stationary, stable boundary layer’, Proceedings of the conference on Models of Turbulence and Diffusion in Stably Stratified Regions of the Natural Environment, March 1983, Cambridge.
Nieuwstadt, F.T.M. and Tennekes, H.: 1981, ‘A rate equation for the nocturnal boundary-layer height’, J. Atmos. Sci. 38, 1418–1428.
Pearson, H.J., Putlock, J.S. and Hunt, J.C.R.: 1983, ‘A statistical model of fluid-element motions and vertical diffusion in a homogeneous statified turbulent flow’, J. Fluid Mech. 129, 219–249.
Rao, K.S. and Snodgrass, H.F.: 1979, ‘Some parameterizations of the nocturnal boundary layer’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 17, 15–28.
Smeda, M.: 1979, ‘Incorporation of planetary boundary-layer processes into numerical forecasting models’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 16, 115–129.
Stull, R.B.: 1983a, ‘A heat-flux history length scale for the nocturnal boundary layer’, Tellus 35A, 219–230.
Stull, R.B.: 1983b, ‘Integral scales for the nocturnal boundary layer part 2: heat budget, transport, and energy implications’, J. Climate Appl. Meteor. 22, 1932–1941.
Tennekes, H.: 1982, ‘Similarity relations, scaling laws and spectral dynamics’, Atmospheric Turbulence and Air Pollution Modelling, F.T.M. Nieuwstadt and H. van Dop (eds.) D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland.
Ueda, H., Mitsumoto, S., and Komori, S.: 1981, ‘Buoyancy effects on the turbulent transport processes in the lower atmosphere’, Quart. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 107, 561–578.
Van Ulden, A.P. and Holtslag, A.A.M.: 1983, ‘The stability of the atmospheric surface layer’, Preprint volume 6th symposium on turbulence and diffusion, March 1983, Boston, American Meteorological Society.
Venkatram, A.: 1980, ‘Estimating the Monin-Obukhov length in the stable boundary layer for dispersion calculations’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 19, 481–485.
Wetzel, P.: 1982, ‘Toward parameterization of the stably boundary layer’, J. Appl. Meteorol. 21, 7–13.
Wyngaard, J.C.: 1973, ‘On surface layer turbulence’, Workshop on Micrometeorology. D.A. Haugen (ed.), American Meteorological Society, Boston.
Yamada, T.: 1979, ‘PBL similarity profiles determined from a level-2 turbulence closure model’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 17, 333–351.
Yamamoto, S., Yokoyama, O. and Gamo, M.: 1979, ‘Observational study on the turbulent structure of the atmospheric boundary layer under stable conditions’, J. Meteorol. Soc. Japan 57, 423–431.
Yu, T.: 1978, ‘Determining height of the nocturnal boundary layer’, J. Appl. Meteorol. 17, 28–33.
Zeman, O.: 1979, ‘Parameterization of the dynamics of stable boundary layers and nocturnal jets’, J. Atmos. Sci. 36, 792–804.
Zilitinkevich, S.S.: 1972, ‘On the determination of the height of the Ekman boundary layer’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 3, 141–145.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nieuwstadt, F.T.M. Some aspects of the turbulent stable boundary layer. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 30, 31–55 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00121948
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00121948