Dependence of C2 sub n(C2 sub T) in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer on Conventional Meteorological Variables
Abstract
The objective of the research was to develop methods for estimating optical turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer with conventional meteorological variables. There are many such variables, considered here to be those observed and reported hourly from weather stations throughout the world. An additional requirement imposed by the research, however, is that the variables chosen, compared to the others, also have the most pronounced effects on optical turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer. The two variables that meet the requirements of conventionality and effectiveness are cloudiness and wind speed. Data sets consisting of boundary-layer measurements of the structure function parameter for refractive index, C squared sub n (measured optically or calculated with various methods of estimating the temperature structure parameter C squared sub T), and meteorological variables, including solar radiation are analyzed. The work concentrates on describing optical turbulence only for sky conditions known to produce the largest values of C squared sub n times C squared sub T in the boundary layer, both in daytime and at night, in that only conditions with a cloudless sky or with scattered clouds (half or less of the sky cloud-covered) are analyzed. In addition to the restriction in terms of cloudiness, the results are applicable mainly to optical turbulence conditions over land surfaces with small amounts of soil moisture.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA169478
Entities
People
- Edward Ryznar
- Joseph A. Bartlo
Organizations
- University of Michigan