Impact of surface variations on the momentum flux above the urban canopy

Abstract

Based on the momentum flux–wind profile relationship of the Monin–Obukhov Similarity (MOS) theory, the observational data from the urban boundary layer field campaign in Nanjing are used to calculate the friction velocity ( $$ {u_*} $$ ) at the top of the urban canopy and the calculated results are evaluated. The urban surface roughness parameters (the roughness length z 0 and zero-plane displacement height z d) are estimated with the Ba method (Bottema’s morphological method). Two different regimes are employed for the calculations. In the homogeneous approach, z 0 and z d are averagely derived from the surface elements in the whole study area; while in the heterogeneous approach, z 0 and z d are locally derived from the surface elements in the corresponding upwind fetches (or source areas). The calculated friction velocities are compared to the measurement data. The results show that the calculated friction velocities from the heterogeneous approach are in better agreement with the observed values than those from the homogeneous approach are. This study implies that the local roughness parameters can properly represent the dynamical heterogeneity of urban surface, and its application can significantly improve the performance of parameterizations based on the MOS theory in the urban roughness sublayer.