The Turbulent Transfer Mechanisms in the Atmospheric Layer,
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the turbulent transfer mechanisms near the surface. Direct measurements of the turbulent fluxes of momentum, heat, and moisture were made in the atmospheric surface layer: principally, 2 m above a grass surface at Ladner, Canada, and 8 m above the Atlantic Ocean near Barbados. The spectral correlation coefficients were considered to be a measure of the transfer efficiency as a function of scale size. For momentum transfer the efficiency decreased at all scales as instability increased. It was postulated that this was due to greater amounts of momentum being transferred in bursts of short duration, thus making the spectral correlation coefficient, averaged over sufficient time, smaller. The Ladner results for heat transfer showed that its transfer efficiency increased at all scales when instability increased. The results from Barbados pointed out two main differences between the subtropics and mid-latitudes: that the temperature spectrum is much narrower in bandwidth and that the humidity fluctuations make an equally important contribution to bouyancy. These features are reflected in the transfer mechanisms. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0729019
Entities
People
- Gordon Almon Mcbean
Organizations
- University of British Columbia