Wind and temperature profile prediction for diabatic surface layers including strong inversion cases

Abstract

The micrometeorological research program in Antarctica has provided extensive data on wind and temperature profile structure under strong to extreme inversion conditions (Dalrymple et al., 1966; Lettau et al., 1977). The basic similarity hypotheses and limiting conditions for prediction of diabatic surface layer profiles are summarized. The model by Businger et al. (1971) for dimensionless shear and temperature gradients is revised to conform with the new results for strong stability. A novel similarity hypothesis is introduced to complete the step from shear and gradient prediction to prediction of absolute wind speed, wind energy, and temperature on the basis of prescribed external factors of surface layer structure. The physics of interactions between predicted profile ‘tilting’ and ‘curving’ are discussed and used to explain several micrometeorological paradoxes, including that of the ‘elevated minimum of air temperature’ observed occasionally near the active surface when the energy budget is of the nocturnal type.