Marine Atmospheric Surface Layer Research Articles

On the Variability of In Situ Surface Layer Refractivity Measurements

Direct measurements of profiles of atmospheric properties near the ocean surface and within the marine atmospheric surface layer often contain a large degree of variability. The variability observed can be explained by numerous technical and natural reasons such as the temporal variability over the time span a profile is measured (unsteadiness in the mean), spatial variations (inhomogeneity), turbulent fluctuations, and measurement uncertainty. In this study, we explored the observed variability in vertical distributions of refractive index measured with a tethered-balloon-based marine atmospheric profiling system (MAPS). MAPS profiled the atmosphere from approximately 0.5 to 50 m, with instantaneous (order 1 s) measurements performed at each profiled altitude. To explore whether the observed scatter could be largely explained by (inertial-scale) turbulent fluctuations, we simulated refractive index fluctuations with a spectral-based turbulent refractive index fluctuation (TRIF) model. TRIF was optimized based on the MAPS measurements to determine a vertical length scale of the turbulence. The scales computed in the optimization were reasonable based on other estimates in the literature under similar conditions. However, finer-scale trends of the length scale with atmospheric stability did not match expectations, and thus the estimated length scales may be considered more as an order-of-magnitude estimate rather than an exact measurement of this scale. The ability to match the observed variability in the MAPS data using a turbulence model with a reasonable choice of vertical length scale suggests that the MAPS variability is dominated by physical processes such as turbulence rather than being primarily driven by measurement uncertainty.

Electromagnetic Ducting in the Near‐Shore Marine Environment: Results From the CASPER‐East Field Experiment

AbstractWe used the observations from the east coast of the USA and model simulations to elicit marine atmospheric surface layer (MASL) processes that controlled the spatial variability of electromagnetic ducting conditions in the near‐shore (60 km) marine environment during CASPER‐East field campaign. The estimated evaporation duct height (EDH) showed an average decrease of ∼2.5 m over every 10 km distance from the shore. The surface layer stability conditions chiefly determined the duct heights. While the mean duct height remained ∼10 m under unstable conditions, deeper (>20 m) evaporation ducts were frequently evident (∼40% of the time) during stable MASL conditions, which were responsible for the observed near‐shore EDH variability. Episodes of warm offshore flow and advection of hot and humid air from the Gulfstream region created ideal environmental conditions for stable MASL development and thus deeper ducts over the coastal ocean. A detailed case study of warm and humid Gulfstream air advection over the cooler coastal ocean is presented to elucidate the temporal evolution of the surface layer stability and associated changes in the spatial distribution of the evaporation duct height.

Understanding Evaporation Duct Variabilities on Turbulent Eddy Scales

AbstractEvaporative Ducts (ED) are common refractive features that exist due to the persistent/strong vertical moisture gradient inherent to the lowest 10s of meters of the marine atmospheric surface layer (MASL). The ED plays a large role in the propagation of signals from the surface‐ or ship‐based radar/communications systems due to the ducting of electromagnetic (EM) waves. Previous studies have characterized ED structure using mesoscale and surface layer models which are based on the Monin‐Obukhov similarity theory. As a result, only the spatially/temporally averaged mean ED structure has been examined. Conversely, this study focuses on ED variability occurring over turbulent energy‐containing eddy scales by utilizing large‐eddy simulations (LES) of the MASL. This innovative approach reveals that the LES‐resolved refractivity perturbations are directly linked to MASL large eddy dynamic and thermodynamic processes. In the thermally unstable MASL, significant turbulent ED variability is noted, with regions of increased ED heights associated with convective updrafts and positive moisture perturbations. In contrast, the thermally stable MASL is shown to exhibit significantly less ED variability over the LES domain. Since current surface layer models have difficulties in calculating ED properties in the thermally stable MASL, utilization of LES is helpful to gain an understanding of the ED in these conditions. A conceptual model of turbulent ED variation is proposed to describe the relationship between MASL dynamics/thermodynamic processes, state variable perturbations, and refractive variations.

Comparison of Atmospheric Refractivity Estimation Methods and Their Influence on Radar Propagation Predictions

AbstractEnvironmental predictions in the marine atmospheric surface layer (MASL) are imperative to optimize X‐band radar system performance in marine environments. Evaporation ducts (ED) lead to anomalous propagation where characterization of EDs in the MASL occurs primarily through two methods: in‐situ measurements and numerical modeling. This study investigates the differences in co‐located and synchronous refractivity estimations from the CASPER‐East campaign. Propagation predictions are generated for refractive profiles from in‐situ measurements, Monin‐Obukov boundary layer similarity theory, and numerical weather prediction forecasts. Variations in evaporation duct height (EDH) are found to be a primary driver of differences in propagation between the estimated refractivity profiles, where location of the EDH relative to the transmitter changes the sensitivity of propagation predictions to EDH estimates. Differences in propagation are large when EDH estimates span the transmitter height and the lowest EDH across the methods is small, regardless of how much variation there is in EDH estimates. When the lowest EDH is small and EDH estimates span the transmitter height there are differences in physical regimes causing large propagation discrepancies–for example, leakage into versus trapping within the duct. Variation in EDH between the methods is greatest in stable environments. M‐deficit and curvature of the refractive profiles also influence propagation specifically in scenarios when EDH spans the transmitter. When all EDHs are below the transmitter, EDH variance is the primary contributor to propagation variance, but M‐deficit and profile curvature variance play a secondary role. M‐deficits and curvature between the methods agree most often during periods of atmospheric stability.

A Comparison Study of Sensitivity on PJ and NPS Models in China Seas

Evaporation duct is an ubiquitous natural phenomenon over the ocean and can be diagnosed by evaporation duct model. The model proposed by Paulus and Jeske and another model established by the American naval postgraduate school are the most widely used. They are called PJ model and NPS model, respectively. Two methods are used to investigate the global sensitivity of PJ model and NPS model in China Seas. The first method is based on meteorological and oceanographic observation data in China Seas. Considering the system random error caused by sensor measurement inaccuracies, the mean relative error and mean absolute error are used as criterion for sensitivity analysis. The second method, called Extended Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test (EFAST), takes into account the interaction between input parameters and is used for sensitivity analysis. The results show that NPS model is more sensitive to the random errors of sensors than PJ model. The mean relative errors of PJ model and NPS model are 11.43% and 14.81%, respectively. The results of global sensitivity parameter analysis indicate that wind speed is the key factor of PJ model, while all input parameter of NPS model have relatively large total sensitivity index. In addition, sensitivity analysis results confirm that wind speed is one of main driving factors for the formation of evaporation duct. These results are valuable for the selection of diagnosis models for evaporation duct, the evaluation of radio wave propagation in the marine atmospheric surface layer, and the prediction technique of evaporation duct based on numerical weather prediction (NWP) in China seas.

Interactions Between Nonlinear Internal Ocean Waves and the Atmosphere

AbstractThe heterogeneity in surface roughness caused by transient, nonlinear internal ocean waves is readily observed in coastal waters. However, the quantifiable impact this heterogeneity has on the marine atmospheric surface layer has not been documented. A comprehensive data set collected from a unique ocean platform provided a novel opportunity to investigate the interaction between this internal ocean process and the atmosphere. Relative to the background atmospheric flow, the presence of internal waves drove wind velocity and stress variance. Furthermore, it is shown that the wind gradient adjusts across individual wave fronts, setting up localized shear that enhanced the air‐sea momentum flux over the internal wave packet. This process was largely mechanical, though secondary impacts on the bulk humidity variance and gradient were observed. This study provides the first quantitative analysis of this phenomenon and provides insights into submesoscale air‐sea interactions over a transient, internal ocean feature.

The study of a turbulent air flow over capillary-gravity water surface waves by direct numerical simulation

The present study is concerned with direct numerical simulation (DNS) of turbulent air flow over a waved water surface. Three-dimensional, turbulent Couette flow is considered in DNS as a model of a constant-flux layer in the marine atmospheric surface layer. Two-dimensional stationary waves at the water surface are prescribed and assumed to be unaffected by the air-flow. We consider capillary-gravity water surface waves and are interested in the influence of “parasitic” capillary ripples riding on the carrier, energy-containing waves, on the properties of the air-flow. The surface waves are prescribed and considered to be stationary, the capillaries being in phase with the carrier wave. The surface elevations spectra are also prescribed and mimicking stationary capillaries riding on Stokes waves observed in a 2D numerical simulation of water-surface capillary-gravity waves by Hung & Tsai (2009). The bulk air velocity and the carrier water surface waves lengths are considered in our DNS in the range of 3 to 5 m/s and 3 to 7 cm, respectively. Under these conditions, the capillaries are found to be submerged within the viscous sublayer of the atmospheric boundary layer. Our DNS results show that although the flow fields are characterized by instantaneous separations of the boundary layer, the ensemble (wave-phase) averaged flow fields are non-separating and well predicted by a quasilinear theoretical model. We find also that capillaries mitigate the development of coherent (horse-shoe) vortex structures as compared to the no-ripples flow-case. We further use DNS results and quasilinear model formulation to parameterize the water surface roughness height in terms of critical layer thickness and the amplitude of a dominant, energy-containing harmonic of the water surface elevation spectrum.

Measurement-Based Numerical Study of the Effects of Realistic Land Topography and Stratification on the Coastal Marine Atmospheric Surface Layer

Large-eddy simulations are used to investigate the effects of coastal topography and atmospheric stratification on the coastal marine atmospheric surface layer at the Field Research Facility in Duck, North Carolina, USA. Field measurements obtained from the CASPER-EAST intensive field campaign in autumn 2015 are used to determine the inlet and lower boundary conditions. The simulations are performed using the in-house Virtual Flow Simulator code, with the simulated mean streamwise velocity component, mean temperature, Reynolds shear stress, and turbulent heat flux, shown to be in good agreement with measurements. In the coastal area, the complex coastal topography leads to an enhancement of the Reynolds shear stress for both onshore and offshore flows, while the effect of atmospheric stratification on the momentum transfer is less significant than the topography. In contrast to the momentum flux, the heat flux is influenced by both the coastal topography and stratification. For onshore flow and stable stratification, the heat flux is significantly increased near the sand dune due to the enhanced turbulence and vertical temperature gradient. For onshore flow and unstable stratification, the strong turbulent mixing tends to enhance the heat flux, but is suppressed by the reduced vertical temperature gradient, such that the magnitude of the turbulent heat flux remains almost unchanged in comparison with the upstream flow. For offshore flow in both stable and unstable stratification, the heat flux is enhanced due to the flow separation at the sand dune.

The Study of Momentum, Mass, and Heat Transfer in a Droplet‐Laden Turbulent Airflow Over a Waved Water Surface by Direct Numerical Simulation

AbstractThis paper investigates turbulent exchange processes in a droplet‐laden air flow over a waved water surface by performing direct numerical simulation (DNS). Turbulent Couette flow is considered in DNS as a model of a constant‐flux layer in the marine atmospheric surface layer. Two‐dimensional stationary waves at the water surface are prescribed and assumed to be unaffected by the airflow and/or droplets. Evaporating droplets of different sizes are injected into the air in the vicinity of wave crests with initial velocities and temperatures of water, and thus mimicking spume sea‐spray droplets. Evolution equations of the airflow velocity, temperature, and humidity are solved in a Eulerian framework simultaneously with the equations of individual droplets coordinates and velocities, temperatures, and masses tracked in a Lagrangian framework. The momentum (Qm) and sensible (QS) and latent (QL) heat fluxes from the droplets to air are evaluated both as phase‐averaged Eulerian fields and as fluxes integrated over time along Lagrangian droplets trajectories. The results show that droplets extract momentum from the surrounding air (Qm < 0), and QL > 0 and increases with droplet diameter, d, whereas QS < 0, reaches maximum for droplets with diameters of the order of 200 μm, and saturates for larger droplets. The resulting enthalpy flux QS + QL > 0 vanishes for droplets with diameters d < 100 μm, and increases with d for larger droplets. DNS results also show that droplets reduce mean air velocity and temperature and increase relative humidity as compared to the droplet‐free flow.

The Role of Roughness and Stability on the Momentum Flux in the Marine Atmospheric Surface Layer: A Study on the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean

AbstractFor the first time, in situ turbulence measurements collected in the vicinity of the Brazil‐Malvinas Confluence are used to determine the influence of the ocean waves and atmospheric stability on the Marine Atmospheric Surface Layer. From the analysis of 187 high‐frequency sampled segments of temperature and wind velocity, carefully selected from three ship campaigns of the Air‐Sea Interaction at Brazil‐Malvinas Confluence project, we found a particular behavior of the drag coefficient, with a negative trend for a calm wind speed up to 10 m/s when the significant wave height was lower than 2.5 m, and a continuous decrease of the drag coefficient with increasing wind speed for significant wave height higher than 2.5 m. The results suggest that waves act as roughness elements during high wave conditions, inducing a zero‐plane displacement in the order of 0.1 to 1 m as an indication for a wave‐induced roughness layer. In addition, the analysis of the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) budget indicates the occurrence of upward TKE transport mainly during stable conditions, while the general patterns of transport and dissipation of TKE are similar to observations taken over land surfaces.

CASPER: Coupled Air–Sea Processes and Electromagnetic Ducting Research

AbstractThe Coupled Air–Sea Processes and Electromagnetic Ducting Research (CASPER) project aims to better quantify atmospheric effects on the propagation of radar and communication signals in the marine environment. Such effects are associated with vertical gradients of temperature and water vapor in the marine atmospheric surface layer (MASL) and in the capping inversion of the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL), as well as the horizontal variations of these vertical gradients. CASPER field measurements emphasized simultaneous characterization of electromagnetic (EM) wave propagation, the propagation environment, and the physical processes that gave rise to the measured refractivity conditions. CASPER modeling efforts utilized state-of-the-art large-eddy simulations (LESs) with a dynamically coupled MASL and phase-resolved ocean surface waves. CASPER-East was the first of two planned field campaigns, conducted in October and November 2015 offshore of Duck, North Carolina. This article highlights the scientific motivations and objectives of CASPER and provides an overview of the CASPER-East field campaign. The CASPER-East sampling strategy enabled us to obtain EM wave propagation loss as well as concurrent environmental refractive conditions along the propagation path. This article highlights the initial results from this sampling strategy showing the range-dependent propagation loss, the atmospheric and upper-oceanic variability along the propagation range, and the MASL thermodynamic profiles measured during CASPER-East.

Anomalous propagation conditions over eastern Pacific Ocean derived from MAGIC data

AbstractThis study characterizes the evaporation and elevated ducts, the most common types of ducts observed over the ocean, along a track of around 4000 km between the California coast and Hawaii. We analyzed 1 year (2012–2013) of ship‐based measurements made during the Marine Atmospheric Radiation Measurement GPCI (GEWEX cloud system study Pacific Cross‐Section Intercomparison) Investigation of Clouds (MAGIC) campaign. During this period, the ship made multiple transects between Southern California and Hawaii. While the ship‐based in situ measurements and the radiosonde data served as the primary data source, a marine atmospheric surface layer model adapted from the Coupled Ocean‐Atmosphere Response Experiment 3.0 surface flux scheme is used to diagnose evaporative duct properties. Calculated mean evaporation duct heights based on shipboard measurements were found to increase steadily from 7 m offshore California to about 15 m near Hawaii. Overall 78% of duct heights are below 20 m. On average the evaporation duct strength is between ≈ 25 and 35 M units near Hawaii and about 15 M units near the California coast. A gradual transition from stratocumulus (Sc) dominated offshore California to trade wind regime with cumulus (Cu) clouds takes place along MAGIC track. The measured marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) height and the capping inversion characteristics are significantly different in the two regimes with MABL decoupling occurring in the longitude range between 125°W and 140°W along the track. The characteristics of the elevated ducts, obtained from the rawinsonde sounding profiles, are also different in the two regions west and east of the MABL decoupling region. Approximately 70–80% of the elevated ducts occur below 1.5 km east of the decoupling region, whereas almost equal percentage of ducts forms at heights above 1.5 km on the west side.

Optimized Estimation of Surface Layer Characteristics from Profiling Measurements

New sampling techniques such as tethered-balloon-based measurements or small unmanned aerial vehicles are capable of providing multiple profiles of the Marine Atmospheric Surface Layer (MASL) in a short time period. It is desirable to obtain surface fluxes from these measurements, especially when direct flux measurements are difficult to obtain. The profiling data is different from the traditional mean profiles obtained at two or more fixed levels in the surface layer from which surface fluxes of momentum, sensible heat, and latent heat are derived based on Monin-Obukhov Similarity Theory (MOST). This research develops an improved method to derive surface fluxes and the corresponding MASL mean profiles of wind, temperature, and humidity with a least-squares optimization method using the profiling measurements. This approach allows the use of all available independent data. We use a weighted cost function based on the framework of MOST with the cost being optimized using a quasi-Newton method. This approach was applied to seven sets of data collected from the Monterey Bay. The derived fluxes and mean profiles show reasonable results. An empirical bias analysis is conducted using 1000 synthetic datasets to evaluate the robustness of the method.

D/H isotope ratios in the global hydrologic cycle

AbstractDeuterium to hydrogen (D/H) ratios in Earth's hydrologic cycle have long served as important tracers of climate processes, yet the global HDO budget remains poorly constrained because of uncertainties in the isotopic compositions of continental evapotranspiration and runoff. Here bias‐corrected satellite retrievals of HDO and H2O concentrations from the Tropospheric Emissions Spectrometer are used to estimate the marine atmospheric surface layer HDO vapor pressure deficit, from which we calculate the global flux‐weighted average oceanic evaporation isotopic composition as −37.6‰. Using these estimates, combined with D/H ratios in precipitation, global mass balance suggests H isotope compositions for global runoff and terrestrial evapotranspiration of −77.3‰ and −40.0‰, respectively. By resolving the HDO budget, we establish an accurate global baseline for geochemically enabled Earth system models, demonstrate patterns in entrainment of moisture into the marine surface layer, and determine the isotopic composition of continental fluxes critical for global ecohydrologic investigations.

An Aerosol Model of the Marine and Coastal Atmospheric Surface Layer

We present a microphysical model for the surface layer marine and coastal atmospheric aerosols that is based on long-term observations of size distributions for 0.01–100 µm particles. The fundamental feature of the model is a parameterization of amplitudes and widths for aerosol modes of the aerosol size distribution function (ASDF) as functions of fetch and wind speed. The shape of ASDF and its dependence on meteorological parameters, height above sea level (H), fetch (X), wind speed (U) and relative humidity (RH), are investigated. At present, the model covers the ranges H = 0–25 m, U = 3–18 km s−1, X ≤ 120 km and RH = 40–98%. The latest version of the Marine Aerosol Extinction Profiles model (MaexPro) is described and applied to the computation and analysis of the spectral profiles of aerosol extinction coefficients α(λ) in the wavelength band λ = 0.2–12 µm. MaexPro is based on the aforementioned aerosol model assuming spherically shaped aerosol particles and the well-known Mie theory. The spectral profiles of α(λ) calculated by MaexPro are in good agreement with observational data and the numerical results obtained from the Navy Aerosol Model (NAM) and the Advanced Navy Aerosol Model (ANAM). Moreover, MaexPro was found to be an accurate and reliable tool for investigating the optical properties of atmospheric aerosols.

On the effect of spray on the dynamics of the marine atmospheric surface layer in strong winds

A nonlinear analytical model of the near-water air layer is considered. In the model, the effect of spray droplets on turbulent exchange is taken into account through their effect on density stratification. To close the system of equations, a semiempirical turbulence theory in the Kolmogorov-Monin form is used. Unlike previous publications, we use an alternative closure scheme that seems more appropriate. A version is also proposed for generalizing the model to the case where heavy admixture particles (spray droplets) make a dominant contribution to the average density of a medium. This model allows a general analytical solution that, in principle, describes non-linear effects such as a decrease in the effective friction and “self-closure” of the heavy admixture in the near-surface layer because of turbulence suppression due to the strengthening of stratification stability. As the current data show, however, the intensity of spray production is probably insufficient to explain the recently discovered phenomenon of the aerodynamic-drag decrease (saturation) in storm winds.

On the Temporal Distribution of Bursts and Events in the Stable Marine Atmospheric Surface Layer

A methodology for tracing the bursting phenomenon occurring in the turbulent boundary-layer is applied to stable marine atmospheric boundary-layer (MABL) data, collected within the framework of the Coupled Boundary Layer Air-Sea Transfer, Low wind component experiment at Nantucket Island, 2003, Massachusetts, USA. For the definition of the events contributing to the bursting phenomenon, the quadrant analysis of the momentum flux with varying threshold value is utilized. The present work aims at the better understanding of the time scales of the microstructures in the MABL, by providing the number of the events and the groups and their mean duration and the time difference of all quadrants of the quadrant analysis, for different thresholds and under different meteorological conditions. The interrelation of the different time scales as well as the correlation between the quadrants are investigated and discussed. Also, it is demonstrated that the procedure of grouping events leads to bursts with a mean duration that is independent of the threshold value, for the most important quadrants of the momentum transfer (2 and 4). It is found that the combination of near-neutral conditions with low wind speed permits the development of larger duration events within the stable MABL. Finally, it is shown that the groups of events maintain adequate time and flux coherence only for quadrants 2 and 4.

The Temperature–Humidity Covariance in the Marine Surface Layer: A One-dimensional Analytical Model

An analytical model that predicts how much of the temperature–humidity covariance within the marine atmospheric surface layer (ASL) originates just above the ASL and just near the surface is proposed and tested using observations from the Riso Air Sea Experiment (RASEX). The model is based on a simplified budget for the two-scalar covariance that retains three basic terms: production, dissipation, and vertical transport. Standard second-order closure formulations are employed for the triple moments and the dissipation terms, and the canonical mixing length for the closure model is assumed linear with height (z) from the surface. Despite the poor performance of the gradient–diffusion closure in reproducing the measured triple moment, the overall covariance model was shown to be sufficiently robust to these assumptions. One of the main findings from the analytical treatment is the origin of the asymmetry in how the top and bottom boundary conditions affect the two-scalar covariance in the ASL. The analytical model reveals that ‘bottom-up’ boundary-condition variations scale with $$z^{-\sqrt{a}}$$ , while ‘top-down’ variations scale with $$z^{\sqrt{a}}$$ , where a is a constant that can be derived from similarity and closure constants. The genesis of this asymmetry stems from the flux-transport term but is modulated by the dissipation, and persists even in the absence of any inhomogeneity in the local production function. It is shown that the local production function acts to adjust the relative proportions of these two boundary conditions with weights that vary with the Obukhov length. The findings here do not provide ‘finality’ to the discussions on the covariance between humidity and temperature or the role of entrainment in modulating the turbulence within the ASL. Rather, they are intended to guide new hypotheses about interpretations of existing field data and identify needs for future field and numerical experiments.

Spectra of CO2 and Water Vapour in the Marine Atmospheric Surface Layer

Spectra of CO2 and water vapour fluctuations from measurements made in the marine atmospheric surface layer have been analyzed. A normalization of spectra based on Monin–Obukhov similarity theory, originally developed for wind speed and temperature, has been successfully extended also to CO2 and humidity spectra. The normalized CO2 spectra were observed to have somewhat larger contributions from low frequencies compared to humidity spectra during unstable stratification. However, overall, the CO2 and humidity spectra showed good agreement as did the cospectra of vertical velocity with water vapour and CO2 respectively. During stable stratification the spectra and cospectra displayed a well-defined spectral gap separating the mesoscale and small-scale turbulent fluctuations. Two-dimensional turbulence was suggested as a possible source for the mesoscale fluctuations, which in combination with wave activity in the vertical wind is likely to explain the increase in the cospectral energy for the corresponding frequency range. Prior to the analysis the turbulence time series of the density measurements were converted to time series of mixing ratios relative to dry air. Some differences were observed when the spectra based on the original density measurements were compared to the spectra based on the mixing ratio time series. It is thus recommended to always convert the density time series to mixing ratio before performing spectral analysis.

Quadrant analysis of the scalar and momentum fluxes in the stable marine atmospheric surface layer

The quadrant technique, a conditional sampling approach that allocates Reynolds stresses into four different types of events (ejections or bursts, sweeps, inward interactions and outward interactions), is applied to stable marine atmospheric boundary-layer data, collected in the framework of the Coupled Boundary Layer Air—Sea Transfer, Low wind component experiment at Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, USA. The general properties of both scalar and momentum transport are analyzed under the scope of quadrant analysis experimentally and theoretically. It is shown that the third-order Gram–Charlier series is necessary and even sufficient in most of the cases, in describing the experimental time and flux contributions of each quadrant to the total transfer, for both scalar and momentum transport, while the ability of the Gaussian distribution is limited to outlining the general pattern of these quantities. Moreover, a threshold value is applied to the conditional analysis, separating the most important events from the less significant ones and the sensitivity of the flux and especially the time fraction of each quadrant on the choice of this value is presented and discussed. Also, a set of numerically extracted equations, completing the analytical relations, is derived, enabling the prediction of the time and flux fractions of each quadrant, for a wide range of correlation coefficient and threshold values. Finally, the sensitivity of the analysis to the atmospheric stability and the Reynolds averaging scales showed that correlated and uncorrelated motions tend to balance for increasingly stable conditions and/or for large time scales.