NUMERICAL MODELING OF THE PLANETARY BOUNDARY LAYER

Abstract

This work describes the major available techniques to simulate the time and
space evolution of the planetary boundary layer. For homogeneous and
equilibrium conditions the structure of the planetary boundary layer can be
diagnosed from the Monin-Obukhov, Free Convection, Local and Mixed
Layer Similarity theories. For the other atmospheric conditions the
planetary boundary layer can be numerically simulated using first and
second order closure models and large eddy models. The closure models
take into consideration the traditional statistical approach. Large eddy
simulation models are based on the filtered equations of motion and require
the statistical approach to estimate subgrid turbulence.