Turbulence Anisotropy in the Near-Surface Atmosphere and the Evaluation of Multiple Outer Length Scales

Abstract

Length scales determined by maximum turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), the integral scale, and two length scales based on Reynolds stress-tensor anisotropy are compared to the often stated outer length scales of boundary-layer depth and distance from the earth's surface, z. The scales are calculated using sonic anemometer data from two elevations, 5 and 50 m above the ground at the main tower site of the CASES-99 field campaign. In general, none of these scales agrees with the other, although the scale of maximum TKE is often similar to the boundary-layer depth during daytime hours, and the length scales derived from anisotropy characteristics are sometimes similar to kz, z, and 2z depending on scale definition and thermal stability. Except for the scale with the strictest isotropy threshold, the turbulence is anisotropic for each of the various candidates for the outer scale. Length scales for maximum buoyancy flux and temperature variance are evaluated and the turbulence characteristics at these scales are almost always found to be anisotropic. © 2013 The Author(s).