A Theory for the Scalar Roughness and the Scalar Transfer Coefficients over Snow and Sea Ice,
Abstract
The bulk aerodynamic transfer coefficients for sensible (C sub H) and latent (C sub E) heat over snow and sea ice surfaces are necessary for accurately modeling the surface energy budget but are very difficult to measure. This report therefore presents a theory that predicts C sub H and C sub E as functions of the wind speed and a surface roughness parameter. The crux of the model is establishing the interfacial sublayer profiles of the scalars, temperature and water vapor, over aerodynamically smooth and rough surfaces. These interfacial sublayer profiles are delivered from surface-renewal model in which turbulent eddies continually sweep down to the surface, transfer scalar contaminants across the interface by molecular diffusion, and then burst away. Matching the interfacial sublayer profiles with the usual semilogarithmic inertial sublayer profiles yields the roughness lengths for temperature and water vapor. With these and a model for the drag coefficient over snow and sea ice based on actual measurements, the transfer coefficients are predicted. C sub E is always a few percent larger than C and H. Both decrease monotonically with increasing wind speed for speeds above 1 m/s, both increase at all winds speeds as the surface gets rougher. Both, nevertheless, are almost between 0.0010 and 0.0015.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA174089
Entities
People
- Edgar L. Andreas
Organizations
- Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory