Journal Article

FZJ-2014-05773

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Meso-scale eddies affect near-surface turbulent exchange: evidence from lidar and tower measurements

Eder, F. (Corresponding Author) ; Schmidt, M.FZJ* ; Damian, T. ; Träumner, K. ; Mauder, M.

2015
AMS Boston, Mass.

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/20367  doi:10.1175/JAMC-D-14-0140.1

Abstract: The eddy-covariance technique tends to underestimate turbulent heat fluxes, which results in nonclosure of the surface energy balance. This study shows experimental evidence that mesoscale turbulent organized structures, which are inherently not captured by the standard eddy-covariance technique, can affect near-surface turbulent exchange. By using a combined setup of three Doppler wind lidars above a cropland-dominated area in Germany, low-frequency turbulent structures were detected in the surface layer down to a few meters above ground. In addition, data from two micrometeorological stations in the study area were analyzed with respect to energy balance closure. In accordance with several previous studies, the data confirm a strong friction velocity dependence of the energy balance residual. At both stations, the energy balance residual was found to be positively correlated with the vertical moisture gradient in the lower atmospheric boundary layer, but at only one station was it correlated with the temperature gradient. This result indicates that mesoscale transport probably contributes more to the latent heat flux than to the sensible heat flux, but this conclusion depends largely on the measurement site. Moreover, flow distortion due to tower mountings and measurement devices affects the energy balance closure considerably for certain wind directions.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Agrosphäre (IBG-3)

Research Program(s):

1. TERENO - Terrestrial Environmental Observatories (TERENO-2008) (TERENO-2008)
2. 255 - Terrestrial Systems: From Observation to Prediction (POF3-255) (POF3-255)
3. DFG project 15232683 - TRR 32: Muster und Strukturen in Boden-Pflanzen-Atmosphären-Systemen: Erfassung, Modellierung und Datenassimilation (15232683) (15232683)

Appears in the scientific report 2015

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Database coverage:
; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection

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