Energy Dissipation Rates of Turbulence in the Stable Free Atmosphere

Abstract

Abstract For stable stratification, it is pointed out that there exists a strong correlation between the intensity of atmospheric turbulence and the energy dissipation rate ?. It is given in terms of the variance of vertical velocity σw2 and the Brunt-Väisälä frequency ?B by ? = 0.4 σw2?B. This relation is argued to have a wider range of applicability in the stratosphere than the previous relation ? = ? σw2, where ? is taken to be constant. For stable stratification, it is pointed out that there exists a strong correlation between the intensity of atmospheric turbulence and the energy dissipation rate ?. It is given in terms of the variance of vertical velocity σw2 and the Brunt-Väisälä frequency ?B by ? = 0.4 σw2?B. This relation is argued to have a wider range of applicability in the stratosphere than the previous relation ? = ? σw2, where ? is taken to be constant.