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Formulation of the thermal internal boundary layer in a mesoscale model

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Abstract

Mesoscale models using a non-local K-scheme for parameterization of boundary-layer processes require an estimate of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) height z i at all times. In this paper, two-dimensional sea-breeze experiments are carried out to evaluate three different formulations for the advective contribution in the z i prognostic equation of Deardorff (1974).

Poor representation of the thermal internal boundary layer in the sea breeze is obtained when z i is advected by the wind at level z i . However, significantly better results are produced if the mean PBL wind is used for the advecting velocity, or if z i is determined simply by checking for the first ‘sufficiently’ stable layer above the ground.

A Lagrangian particle model is used to demonstrate the effect of each formulation on plume dispersion by the sea breeze.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research, Private Bag No. 1, 3195, Mordialloc, Australia

    W. L. Physick & D. J. Abbs

  2. Dept. of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, 80523, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

    R. A. Pielke

Authors
  1. W. L. Physick
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  2. D. J. Abbs
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  3. R. A. Pielke
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Physick, W.L., Abbs, D.J. & Pielke, R.A. Formulation of the thermal internal boundary layer in a mesoscale model. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 49, 99–111 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00116407

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00116407

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