Abstract
A review is presented of the turbulent structure and dynamics of the atmospheric boundary layer. First attention is given to some general aspects of the boundary layer in relation to its role in the dynamics of the atmosphere. The general characteristics of the boundary layer, such as turbulence are discussed and the equations for a horizontally homogeneous boundary layer are formulated. Based on a simple closure of the turbulent fluxes a solution of these equations, in the form of the Ekman profile, is presented. The tructure and dynamics of boundary layer prototypes, such as the surface layer, the neutral, the convective and the stable boundary layer, are investigated. Within each scaling regime the appropriate scaling parameters are defined and scaling expressions are formulated and compared with experimental data. The boundary-layer dynamics of each prototype is considered. In addition attention is given to some special topics such as the effect of roughness and vegetation, coherent structures and clouds. Finally the non-stationary and inhomogeneous boundary layer is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
7 Bibliography
Andren A., Brown A., Graf J., Mason P.J., Moeng C.-H., Nieuwstadt F.T.M. and Schumann U. 1994 Large eddy simulation of a neutrally stratified boundary layer: a comparison of four computer codes. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 120, 1457–1484.
Arya, S.P. 1988 Introduction to micrometeorology. Vol 42. International Geophysics Series, Academic Press, New York, U.S.A.
Deardorff J.W. 1974 Three dimensional numerical study of turbulence in an entraining mixed layer Bound. Layer Meteor. 7, 199–226.
Durbin P.A. and Petterson B.A. 2000 Statistical theory and Modeling for Turbulent Flows. Wiley & Sons Ltd., Chichester, U.K..
Etling, D. and Brown R.A. 1999 Roll vortices in the planetary boundary layer: a review Bound. Layer Meteor. 65, 215–248.
Garratt, J.R. 1992 The atmospheric boundary layer. Cambridge atmospheric and space science series, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England.
Grant A.L.M. 1992 The structure of turbulence in the near-neutral atmospheric boundary layer. J. Atmos. Sci. 49, 226–239.
Fleagle R.G. and Businger, J.A. 1980 An introduction to Atmospheric Physics. Academic Press, Orlando, Fla., U.S.A.
Folz, A.B. 1970 An experimental study of teh near-surface turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer. Thesis University of Maryland, U.S.A.
Holtslag A.A.M and Nieuwstadt, F.T.M. 1986 Scaling the atmospheric boundary layer. Bound.-Layer Meteorol. 36, 201–209.
Hibberd M.F. and Sawford B.L. 1994 A saline laboratory model of the planetary convective boundary layer Bound.-Layer Meteorol. 67, 229–250.
Hinze O. 1975 Turbulence. McGraw-Hill, New York, U.S.A.
Kaimal, J.C. and Finnigan, J.J. 1994 Atmospheric Boundary Layer Flows; their structure and measurement. Oxford University Press, Oxford, England.
Launder, B.E. and Sandham, N.D. (eds.) 2002 Closure strategies for turbulent and transitional flows. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K..
Mason P. 1989 Large eddy simulation of the convective atmospheric boundary layer. J. Atmos. Sci. 46, 1492–1516.
Mason P.J. and Thomson D.J. 1987 Large-eddy simulation of the neutral-static-stability planetary boundary layer. Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 113, 413–443.
Panofsky H.A. and Dutton, S.P. 1984 Atmospheric Turbulence; Models and Methods for Engineering Applications. John Wiley & Sons, New York..
Nicholls, S. 1989 The structure of radiatively driven convection in stratocumulus. Quart. J. Roy. Met. Soc. 115, 487–511.
Nieuwstadt F.T.M. 1984a The turbulent structure of the stable boundary layer. J. Atmos. Sci. 41, 2202–2216.
Nieuwstadt F.T.M. 1984b Some aspects of the turbulent stable boundary layer. Bound. Layer Meteorol. 30, 31–54.
Nieuwstadt F.T.M. and Tennekes H. 1981 A rate equation for the nocturnal boundary-layer height. J. Atmos Sci. 38, 1418–1428.
Nieuwstadt F.T.M, Mason P.J., Moeng C.-H. and Schumann U. 1992 Large-eddy simulation of the convective boundary layer: a comparison of four computer codes. In Turbulent Shear Flows 8, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 343–367.
Nieuwstadt F.T.M. and Hunt J.C.R. 2002 Boundary Layers: coherent structures. Encyclopedia of Atmospheric Sciences (J.R. Holton, J.A. Pyle and J.A. Curry, eds) Elsevier Sciences, pp. 228–233
Pope S.B. 2000 Turbulent flows. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge U.K..
Raupach, M.R., Antonia R.A. and Rajagopalan S. 1988 Rough-wall turbulent boundary layers. Appl. Mech. Rev. 44, 1–25.
Schmidt H. and Schumann U. 1988 Coherent structure of the convective boundary layer derived from large eddy simulation. J. Fluid Mech. 200, 511–562.
Sorbjan, Z. 1989 Structure of the atmospheric boundary layer. Prentice Hall, Engle-Wood Cliffs, N.J. 07632.
Stull, R. 1988 An introduction to boundary-layer meteorology. Atmospheric Science Library, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, the Netherlands.
Tennekes H. and Lumley J.L. 1972 A first course in turbulence. MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.
Weil, J.C. 1988 Disperion in the convective boundary layer. In Lectures on air pollution modelling (eds. A. Venkatram and J.C. Wyngaard), American Meteorological Society, Boston, U.S.A., pp 167–222.
Wyngaard, J.C. 1988 Structure of the PBL. In Lectures on air pollution modelling (eds. A. Venkatram and J.C. Wyngaard), American Meteorological Society, Boston, U.S.A., pp 9–61.
Wyngaard, J.C. 1992 Atmospheric turbulence. Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech.. 24205–233
Wyngaard, J.C., Cote O.R. and Y. Izumi 1971 Local free convection, similarity and the budgets of shear stress and heat flux. J. Atmos. Sci. 28, 1171–1182.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2005 CISM, Udine
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Nieuwstadt, F.T.M. (2005). The atmospheric boundary layer. In: Armenio, V., Sarkar, S. (eds) Environmental Stratified Flows. CISM International Centre for Mechanical Sciences, vol 479. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-211-38078-7_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-211-38078-7_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna
Print ISBN: 978-3-211-28408-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-211-38078-9
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)