Refractive Index Structure in the Lower Atmosphere

Abstract

We develop a local scaling theory for structure-function parameters C (sup 2, sub n) and C (sup 2, sub v)of refractive index and velocity fluctuations in the stably stratified atmospheric boundary layer. The theory relates them to the local values of vertical temperature flux omega theta and shearing stress TAU. The theory agrees well with data from observations and from large-eddy simulations. The effects of flow unsteadiness, baroclinity, terrain slope, and breaking gravity waves are apt to cause vertical profiles of omega theta and TAU to vary strongly from case to case, making the C (sup 2, sub n) and C (sup 2 sub v) profiles quite variable as well, but according to the theory the stress and heat flux profiles can generally be diagnosed from those of the structure parameters.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA270935

Entities

People

  • D. Thomson
  • J. Wyngaard

Organizations

  • Pennsylvania State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundary Layer
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Equations
  • Flow
  • Fluid Flow
  • Large Eddy Simulation
  • Meteorology
  • Observation
  • Radiation
  • Remote Sensing
  • Scattering
  • Simulations
  • Stratified Fluids
  • Temperature Gradients
  • Turbulence
  • Wave Propagation

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Analytical Mechanics
  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology