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 (ζ = Lz ), dimensionless momentum (ϕm), and heat coefficients (ϕh). 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 ζ values, using the bulk Richardson number, get along well with the reference ζ 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.