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Statistics of atmospheric turbulence within a natural black spruce forest canopy

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Abstract

Turbulence statistics were measured in a natural black-spruce forest canopy in southeastern Manitoba, Canada. Sonic anemometers were used to measure time series of vertical wind velocity (w), and cup anemometers to measure horizontal wind speed (s), above the canopy and at seven different heights within the canopy. Vertical profiles were measured during 25 runs on eight different days when conditions above the canopy were near-neutral.

Profiles of s and of the standard deviation (Σ w ) of w show relatively little scatter and suggest that, for this canopy and these stability conditions, profiles can be predicted from simple measurements made above the canopy. Within the canopy, a negative skewness and a high kurtosis of the w-frequency distributions indicate asymmetry and the persistence of large, high-velocity eddies. The Eulerian time scale is only a weak function of height within the canopy.

Although w-power spectra above the canopy are similar to those in the free atmosphere, we did not observe an extensive inertial subrange in the spectra within the canopy. Also, a second peak is present that is especially prominent near the ground. The lack of the inertial subrange is likely caused by the presence of sources and sinks for turbulent kinetic energy within our canopy. The secondary spectral peak is probably generated by wake turbulence caused by form drag on the wide, horizontal spruce branches.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Research Branch, Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, R0E 1L0, Pinawa, Manitoba, Canada

    B. D. Amiro & P. A. Davis

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  1. B. D. Amiro
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  2. P. A. Davis
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Amiro, B.D., Davis, P.A. Statistics of atmospheric turbulence within a natural black spruce forest canopy. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 44, 267–283 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00116066

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