Richard J.A.M. Stevens

Professor at the University of Twente

Wind energy · Turbulence · Environmental flows

Publication 104 · Atmospheric turbulence

The Mean Wind and Potential Temperature Flux Profiles in Convective Boundary Layers

L. Liu, S.N. Gadde, R.J.A.M. Stevens, J. Atmos. Sci. 80, 1893-1903 (2023).

Read the article Open-access version (university repository)

Main finding

A semi-empirical model joins surface-layer, mixed-layer and entrainment-layer descriptions of wind and heat flux across the simulated convective boundary layer. It interpolates a controlled LES family rather than supplying independent validation or a closed operational parameterization.

Mean velocity profiles with similarity theory and a new model in four convective cases
How to read the figure. Mean streamwise velocity against normalised height in four convective boundary layer simulations, with Monin-Obukhov similarity (dashed) and the paper's whole-depth profile (solid). Similarity theory follows the data only near the ground; the new profile tracks it through the mixed layer and across the inversion, which is why the three regions need different descriptions. Figure 6 is the spanwise counterpart. This is a semi-empirical interpolation within a controlled simulation family, not independent validation or a closed parameterisation. Open the full-resolution figure. Figure 5. L. Liu et al. (2023). No separate licence is stated here; consult the original publication and credited source before reuse.

Why this matters

Shows why daytime boundary layers require different vertical descriptions near the ground, in the mixed layer, and at the inversion.

Research context

Universal Wind Profile for Conventionally Neutral Atmospheric Boundary Layers (read the finding) supplies the conventionally neutral perturbation-method precedent but has zero surface heat flux and explicitly overlapping CNBL simulations; it does not validate convective transfer. Large-Eddy Simulations of Stratified Atmospheric Boundary Layers (read the finding) supplies the same-code LASD/SGS and convective-case context. The present case 2 is the same nominal CBL configuration at a coarser 256^3 grid, with different tabulated outputs; no raw-field reuse is demonstrated.

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