Abstract
A statistical model, based on a method of Vulf'son, is used to examine some of the plume-like temperature structures formed in the unstable boundary layer. The model assumes that the plume diameter changes slowly with height so that a cylindrical approximation may be made. Measurements of the vertical velocity and temperature were used to determine the temperature dependent portion of the vertical velocity field. Temperature data were collected from sensors on a tower and from aircraft; velocity data were collected only from the tower.
Using this model for analysis of the data indicates that: (1) the average isotherm diameter and the population of isotherms are a function ofz/L; (2) the distribution of core temperatures is approximately a uniform distribution.
Independent of the model, a convective velocity was determined and found to have approximately the same profile as the temperature; from this the average velocity of the plumes was found to be a linear function ofz/L, fromz/L ∼- 0.1 toz/L ∼- 1.0. As a consequence of this functional dependence, the entrainment into the plumes is approximately constant over this range. The cumulative temperature distribution function was found to be an asymmetric function ofz/L. A simple relation which is independent ofu * is given to determine the heat flux.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bean, B. R., Gilmer, R., Grossman, R. L., McGavin, R., and Travis, C.: 1972, ‘An Analysis of Airborne Measurements of Vertical Water Vapor Flux during Bomex’, submitted toJ. Atmospheric Sci.
Beran, D. W.: 1971, ‘Acoustic Radar Detection Techniques’,FAA Turbulence Symposium.
Bryson, Reid A.: 1955, ‘Convective Transfer with Light Winds’,Trans. Am. Geophys. Union 36, 209.
Businger, J. A., Wijngaard, J. C., Izumi, Y., and Bradley, E. F.: 1971, ‘Flux-Profile Relationships in the Atmospheric Surface Layer’,J. Atmospheric Sci. 28, 181–189.
Chandra, K.: 1938, ‘Instability of Fluids Heated from Below’,Proc. Roy. Soc. A164, 231.
Haugen, D. A., Kaimal, J. C., and Bradley, E. F.: 1971, ‘An Experimental Study of Reynolds Stress and Heat Flux in the Atmospheric Surface Layer’,Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 97, 168–180.
Kaimal, J. C. and Haugen, D. A.: 1967, ‘Characteristics of Vertical Velocity Fluctuation Observed on a 430 m Tower’,Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 93, 305–317.
Kaimal, J. C. and Businger, J. A.: 1970, ‘Case Studies of a Convective Plume and a Dust Devil’,J. Appl. Meteorol. 9, 602–620.
Lenschow, D. H.: 1970, ‘Airplane Measurements of Planetary Boundary Layer Structure’,J. Appl. Meteorol. 9, 874–884.
McAllister, L. G., Pollard, J. R., Mahoney, A. R., and Shaw, P. J. R.: 1969, ‘Acoustic Sounding - A New Approach to the Study of Atmospheric Structure’,Proc. IEEE 57, 579–587.
McBean, G. A., Stewart, R. W., and Miyake, M.: 1971, ‘The Turbulent Energy Budget near the Surface’,J. Geophys. Res. 76, 6540–6549.
Monin, A. S. and Yaglom, A. M.: 1971,Statistical Fluid Mechanics 1, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.
Morton, B. R., Taylor, G. I., and Turner, J. W.: 1956, ‘Turbulent Gravitational Convection from Maintained and Instantaneous Sources’,Proc. Roy. Soc. London A234, 1–23.
Morton, B. R.: 1957, ‘Buoyant Plumes in a Moist Atmosphere’,J. Fluid Mech. 2, 127–144.
Obukhov, A. M. : 1946, ‘Turbulence in an Atmosphere with a Non-Uniform Temperature’,Trudy Inst. Teoret. Geofis. AN SSSR, No. 1. (Translation in:Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 2, 7–29).
Priestley, C. H. B., 1954, ‘Vertical Heat Transfer from Impressed Temperature Fluctuations’,Australian J. Phys. 7, 202–209.
Priestley, C. H. B.: 1956, ‘Convection from the Earth's Surface’,Proc. Roy. Soc. London,A238, 287–304.
Priestley, C. H. B. and Ball, F. K.: 1955, ‘Continuous Convection from an Isolated Source of Heat’,Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 81, 144–157.
Taylor, R. J.: 1958, ‘Thermal Structures in the Lowest Layers of the Atmosphere’,Australian J. Phys. 11, 168–176.
Taylor, R. J., Warner, J., and Bacon, N. E.: 1970, ‘Scale Length in Atmospheric Turbulence as Measured from an Aircraft’,Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 96, 750–755.
Telford, J. W.: 1966, ‘The Convective Mechanism in Clear Air’,J. Atmospheric Sci. 23, 652–666.
Telford, J. W.: 1970, ‘Convective Plumes in a Convective Field’,J. Atmospheric Sci. 27, 347–358.
Telford, J. W. and Warner, J.: 1967, ‘Convection Below Cloud Base’,J. Atmospheric Sci. 24, 374–382.
Turner, J. S.: 1963, ‘The Motion of Buoyant Elements in Turbulent Surroundings’,J. Fluid Mech. 16, 1–16.
Vulf'son, N. I.: 1961,Convective Motions in a Free Atmosphere, Israel Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem (translated 1964). Clearing house, U.S. Dept. of Commerce. π64-11017, 188 pp.
Webb, E. K.: 1965, ‘Aerial Microclimate’,Meteorol. Monographs 6, 27–58.
Woodward, Betsy: 1959, ‘The Motion in and Around Isolated Thermals’,Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 85, 144–151.
Wyngaard, J. C., Coté, O. R., and Izumi, Y.: 1971, ‘Local Free Convection, Similarity, and the Budgets of Shear Stress and Heat Flux’,J. Atmospheric Sci. 28, 1171–1182.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Contribution No. 269 Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Frisch, A.S., Businger, J.A. A study of convective elements in the atmospheric surface layer. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 3, 301–328 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00736183
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00736183