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Weak-wind mesoscale meandering in the nocturnal boundary layer

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Abstract

This study examines the strength and statistical behavior of mesoscale motions on time scales up to 1 h using eight data sets over different surface types. The mesoscale motions include internal gravity waves, microfront-like structures, horizontal modes, and a complex variety of other signatures, perhaps resulting from superposition of different modes. With weak large-scale flow, the mesoscale motions lead to meandering of the wind direction, as found in previous studies. However, the meandering often takes the form of sudden wind shifts rather than oscillation of wind direction.

The relative strength and impact of such mesoscale motions are examined in terms of the constancy of the wind vector, the within-record standard deviation of the wind direction and the ratio of a meso-velocity scale to the speed of the large-scale flow. The strength of the mesoscale flow varies by an order of magnitude between nights at a given site and varies systematically between sites. The statistics of the vertical structure of such motions are examined for two of the data sets, both with sonic anemometers at seven levels.

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  1. COAS, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Larry Mahrt

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  1. Larry Mahrt
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Correspondence to Larry Mahrt.

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Mahrt, L. Weak-wind mesoscale meandering in the nocturnal boundary layer. Environ Fluid Mech 7, 331–347 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-007-9024-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-007-9024-9

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