Comparison of Length Scale Parameterization Methodologies

Abstract

Atmospheric stability has been studied for decades. There are several methodologies that evolved over the years. In this study, a special experimental meteorological mast that has been erected to a complex site has been used to calculate dimensionless Obukhov length (zeta), dimensionless momentum (phi m), and heat coefficients (phi h). The results are compared with the ones from average value approaches: Richardson number, flux-profile (F-P) relations, and wind shear exponent methods. The results show that the estimated zeta values, using the bulk Richardson number, get along well with the reference zeta within the neutral and stable regimes. F-P relations and wind shear exponent methods result in the best agreement for stable and neutral regimes. Nevertheless, average oriented methods are not reliable for the other regimes.