Vertical Turbulent Exchange Research Articles

Consequences of intense drought on CO2 and CH4 fluxes of the reed ecosystem at Lake Neusiedl

Reed (Phragmites australis) dominated wetlands are commonly known as strong carbon (C) sinks due to the high productivity of the reed plant and C fixation in the wetland soil. However, little is known about the effects of drought on reed-dominated wetlands and the possibility of Pannonian reed ecosystems being a source of greenhouse gases (GHG). The drought at Lake Neusiedl had a particular impact on the water level, but also had consequences for the reed belt. Therefore, we investigated the drought-influenced C fluxes and their drivers in the reed ecosystem of this subsaline lake over a period of 4.5 years (mid-2018 to 2022). We applied eddy covariance technique to continuously quantify the vertical turbulent GHG exchange between reed belt & atmosphere and used vegetation indices to account for reed growth. Methane emissions decreased by 76% from 9.2 g CH4-C m-2a-1 (2019) to 2.2 g CH4-C m-2 a-1 (2022), which can be explained by the falling water level, the associated drying out of the reed belt and its consequences. Carbon dioxide emissions initially decreased by 85% from 181 g CO2-C m-2 a-1 (2019) to 27 g CO2-C m-2 a-1 (2021), but then increased to twice the 2019 level in 2022 (391 g CO2-C m-2 a-1). Due to the drying reed belt, the reed initially grew into formerly water-covered areas within the reed belt, especially in 2021, leading to higher photosynthesis through 2021. This development stopped and even reversed in 2022 as a consequence of the sharp decrease in sediment water content from about 65 to 32 Vol-% in mid-2022. Overall, drought led to a decoupling of the reed ecosystem from the open lake area and developed the wetland into a strong C source.

A one-dimensional urban flow model with an eddy-diffusivity mass-flux (EDMF) scheme and refined turbulent transport (MLUCM v3.0)

Abstract. In recent years, urban canopy models (UCMs) have been used as fully coupled components of mesoscale atmospheric models as well as offline tools to estimate temperature and surface fluxes using atmospheric forcings. Examples include multi-layer urban canopy models (MLUCMs), where the vertical variability of turbulent fluxes is calculated by solving prognostic momentum and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE, k) using mixing length scale (l) and drag parameterizations. These parameterizations are based on the well-established 1.5-order k−l turbulence closure theory and are often informed by microscale fluid dynamics simulations. However, this approach can include simplifications such as assuming the same diffusion coefficient for momentum, TKE, and scalars. In addition, the dispersive stresses arising from spatially averaged flow properties have been parameterized together with the turbulent fluxes despite being controlled by different mechanisms. Both of these assumptions impact the quantification of the turbulent exchange of flow properties and subsequent air temperature predictions in urban canopies. To assess these assumptions and improve corresponding parameterization, we analyzed 49 large-eddy simulations (LES) for idealized urban arrays, encompassing variable building height distributions and a comprehensive range of urban densities (λp∈[0.0625,0.64]) seen in global cities. We find that the efficiency of turbulent transport (numerically described via diffusion coefficients) is similar for scalars and momentum but is 3.5 times higher for TKE. Additionally, parameterizing the dispersive momentum flux using the k−l closure was a source of error, while scaling with the pressure gradient and urban morphological parameters appears more appropriate. In response to these findings, we propose two changes to the previous version of MLUCM: (a) separate characterization for turbulent diffusion coefficient for momentum and TKE and (b) introduction of an explicit physics-based “mass-flux” term to represent the fraction of the dispersive momentum transport directly induced from buildings as an amendment to the existing “eddy-diffusivity” framework. The updated one-dimensional model, after being tuned for building height variability, is further compared against the original LES results and demonstrates improved performance in predicting vertical turbulent exchange in urban canopies.

Parallel Numerical Implementation of Mathematical Wave Hydrodynamics Models Taking into Account the Features of the Vertical Turbulent Exchange Using Remote Sensing Data

Parallel Numerical Implementation of Mathematical Wave Hydrodynamics Models Taking into Account the Features of the Vertical Turbulent Exchange Using Remote Sensing Data

Original article Spatial-three-dimensional wave processes’ modeling in shallow water bodies taking into account the vertical turbulent exchange features

Introduction. Reliable prediction of indicators of turbulent flows is a very difficult task, which is explained by the exceptional physical complexity of turbulence, in particular its probabilistic nature, a wide space-time spectrum and a fundamentally three-dimensional non-stationary nature. Despite conducting a wide range of studies focused on the problem under consideration, they did not fully reflect the totality of various factors and processes affecting the structure and parameters of vertical turbulent mixing. This indicates the need for a systematic analysis of the problem and modeling of such complex formalized systems. The aim of the work is to construct a scenario of changes in hydrodynamic wave processes of the coastal zone, based on an improved mathematical model of wave processes.Materials and methods. The article is devoted to the study of spatial-three-dimensional wave processes in shallow water bodies, taking into account the features of turbulent exchange depending on the source and localization in the column of liquid, as well as the study of the influence of regular wave processes on turbulent exchange and vertically using a mathematical model of wave processes based on the system of Navier-Stokes equations, including three equations of motion in the with dynamically changing geometry of the computational domain.The results of the study. Based on the developed software package, a scenario of changes in hydrodynamic wave processes of the coastal zone is constructed, the formation of vortex structures is predicted. Discussion and conclusions. The separation of the wave flow into a near-surface macroturbulent layer caused by wave motion and a lower layer with background hydrodynamic turbulence is proved, the strength and intensity of turbulence changed synchronously with wave oscillations, demonstrating a pronounced asymmetry of turbulence generation throughout the water column.

Fine Structure of Vertical Density Distribution in the Black Sea and Its Relationship with Vertical Turbulent Exchange

This paper is concerned with the analysis of the long-term regular time series of current velocity and conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) profiles, measured with the moored autonomous profiler Aqualog over the upper part of the continental slope at a fixed geographical location in the Northeastern Black Sea. This study focuses on the fine structure of the density profiles to show that the fine-structure Cox number (C) is a power function of the Richardson number (Ri). A similar inverse power relationship with the same exponent was found earlier for the coefficient of vertical turbulent mass exchange (Kρ) and Ri. Based on those results, the analysis indicated a statistically significant correlation between C and Kρ, which suggests that the estimations of Kρ could be conducted from the CTD data only.

Improved parametrization of the vertical turbulent exchange coefficient, taking into account the shallow water bodies specifics

The article is devoted to the problem of improving the parameterization of the coefficient of turbulent exchange in shallow water bodies with significant depth differences and intensive vertical mixing. The article presents the basic equations of the model of taking into account the wave effect on the inhomogeneous vertical coefficient of turbulent exchange. This model is integrated into the system of Navier-Stokes equations taking into account the variable density, temperature and salinity, which describes the movement of a liquid under the influence of various forces, including pressure and viscosity, as well as forces caused by the action of waves. The article presents the discretization of the Navier-Stokes equations and the transfer equations by the finite difference method in three measurement directions. The additional term describing the wave effect on the vertical velocity in a shallow-water reservoir depends on the characteristics of the wave field: amplitude, angular frequency, wave number and coordinates. Using a model that takes into account the wave effect in three measuring directions and inhomogeneous turbulent exchange in the vertical direction, detailed information about the dynamics of waves in the simulated section of a shallow reservoir was obtained. The forecast of changes in hydrodynamic wave processes of the coastal zone is constructed. Inhomogeneous vertical turbulent exchange can vary significantly in different parts of a shallow reservoir and affect wave activity. Taking into account these changes makes the model more accurate and relevant to real conditions.

Mechanism of the effect of vertically propagating internal gravity waves on turbulence barrier and pollutant diffusion during heavy haze episodes

During heavy haze episodes, especially the cumulative stage (CS) of pollutants, strong turbulence intermittency and the resulting turbulence barrier effect (i.e., a phenomenon that turbulence at certain heights may disappear forming a laminar flow as if there is a barrier layer impeding the vertical turbulent exchange) suppress the vertical diffusion of pollutants, leading to high PM2.5 concentrations. However, there are still some short-time removal processes of pollutants occurring at different heights in the CS, accompanied with interesting non-simultaneous drop or opposite variation of PM2.5 concentrations at different heights. The ubiquitous internal gravity waves (IGWs) in the stable boundary layer (SBL) may play a critical role in the above situation, as they are closely related to the intermittent turbulence bursts appearing in the persistent weak turbulent motions. In this study, two representative heavy haze pollution cases were chosen to demonstrate the above speculation using five layers of turbulence data, two layers of pressure fluctuations and three layers of PM2.5 concentrations. Results showed that the non-simultaneous drop or opposite variation of PM2.5 concentrations was associated with the destruction of turbulence barrier by the vertical propagation of IGWs. IGWs generated by some certain mechanisms, such as nonhomogeneous terrain and wind shear around the low-level jet (LLJ), can propagate upward or downward with the upward or downward development of the temperature inversion layer. The vertically propagating IGWs then triggered intermittent increasing turbulence layer by layer. Turbulence between layers reconnected sequentially and turbulence barriers were broken in turn. The enhanced turbulent exchange expedited the pollutant diffusion, thus the PM2.5 concentrations at different heights varied non-simultaneously even inversely. This study provides a good explanation for the positive effects of sub-mesoscale motions such as IGWs on triggering intermittent increasing turbulence and facilitating the diffusion of pollutants during heavy haze pollution events.

3D turbulent currents simulation in the coastal zone using the LES approach based on filtered ADCP data

The interest in turbulence in shallow waters, such as the Azov Sea, is caused by the fact that in the places of its existence there is an intensive transfer of the amount of motion and heat, the spread of passive impurities, the transfer of suspended particles. These processes significantly affect the formation and spatial structure of physical, chemical and biological fields of reservoirs and their spatial and temporal changes. Depending on the smoothing scale of the series of initial readings of the flow meters, the pulsation characteristics of the flow velocity were determined, which were processed in order to obtain data on turbulence and its scales. The research results provided empirical data on the conditions of generation and existence of small-scale turbulence. The collected empirical material is currently being processed to study the internal structure of the recorded disturbances of small-scale turbulence. In this paper, small-scale motion is excluded from the Navier-Stokes equations by applying the filtration operation and is modeled using subgrid models. To do this, in two-dimensional and three-dimensional cases, various types of filters are used: a box filter, a Gaussian filter and a Fourier filter, with a gradual decrease in the filter width, which allows you to reproduce a wider frequency range of fluctuations of the solution. The obtained data are planned to be used for numerical simulation of three-dimensional turbulent flows using the LES approach and comparison with the results of averaging by RANS. The article considers the possibilities of using various types of approximations for parametrization of vertical turbulent exchange. Algebraic models for calculating the coefficient of vertical turbulent exchange and semi-empirical turbulence models are compared.

Algorithms for calculating the microturbulent exchange coefficient for a three-dimensional mathematical model of hydrodynamics of coastal systems

The work is devoted to the construction of a model of turbulent exchange in shallow water bodies using the results of expeditionary measurements. The Kalman filter algorithm was used to filter field data. An algorithm for calculating the coefficient of vertical turbulent exchange, which decisively affects the heat and gas exchange of the coastal system, has been developed, which has made it possible to significantly reduce the effect f noise in the experimental data used. As a result of the numerical implementation of the developed algorithm, the coefficient of microturbulent exchange in the vertical direction was obtained for a three-dimensional mathematical model of hydrodynamics of coastal systems.

Vertical turbulent exchange structure and parametrization for 3D shallow water hydrodynamics models

The work describes research of vertical turbulent exchange structure and parametrization for 3D shallow water hydrodynamics models. In this paper, the coefficients of horizontal turbulent exchange are calculated using a whole set of averaging periods of turbulent velocity pulsations. Using experimental data on the pulsations of the velocity components, the coefficient of vertical turbulent exchange was calculated on the basis of various approaches to its parameterization, based on the analysis of the obtained coefficient distributions, the most adequate parameterization of the coefficient was selected, which is used in the software package. The distribution of the vertical turbulent exchange coefficient obtained in a numerical experiment was compared with the results of full-scale measurements, and the calculation results obtained using the mathematical statistics apparatus were analysed.

Osnovnyye zakonomernosti vertikal'nogo turbulentnogo obmena v kvaziodnorodnykh i stratifitsirovannykh sloyakh Chernogo morya

Purpose. The purpose of the study is to assess the coefficient of vertical turbulent exchange for different layers of the Black Sea basin based on the experimental data on microstructure of the physical fields obtained for the period 2004–2019 in the Black Sea and using the semi-empirical models. Methods and Results. For the upper mixed layer, the turbulent energy dissipation rate ɛ and the exchange coefficient were calculated using the velocity fluctuation spectra based on the Kolmogorov hypotheses on the turbulence spectrum inertial range. In the stratified layers, the turbulence coefficient and the dissipation rate were experimentally determined both from the spectra of the velocity horizontal fluctuations’ gradients and the vertical spectra of temperature fluctuations using the concept of the effective scale of turbulent spots. Depending on the features of the hydrological regime and the prevailing energy contributors to turbulence generation, five layers were identified and described (including their characteristic power dependences of the vertical turbulent diffusion coefficients K on the buoyancy frequency N) using the 1.5D-model of vertical turbulent exchange for the basin under study. For the stratified layers, the 1.5D-model results were comparatively analyzed with those of the other semi-empirical and theoretical models describing the most probable hydrophysical processes in each specific layer; the relations for the vertical turbulent exchange coefficient were obtained depending on the buoyancy frequency. Conclusions. Comparison of the experimental data collected under different hydrometeorological conditions with the simulations resulted from the known turbulence models for the sea upper layer showed that the best agreement between the simulation and measurement data was provided by a multiscale model taking into account three basic mechanisms of turbulence generation: current velocity shear, instability of wave motions, and wave breaking. The turbulent exchange coefficient dependencies on depth are conditioned by the affect of the turbulence dominant source at a given level. In the stratified layers, the exchange coefficient dependence on buoyancy frequency is determined by the hydrophysical processes in each layer; the relations obtained for individual layers indicate intensity of the contributions of vertical advection, internal wave breakings, turbulence diffusion and geothermal flux.

Basic Regularities of Vertical Turbulent Exchange in the Mixed and Stratified Layers of the Black Sea

Purpose. The purpose of the study is to assess the coefficient of vertical turbulent exchange for different layers of the Black Sea basin based on the experimental data on microstructure of the physical fields obtained for the period 2004–2019 in the Black Sea and using the semi-empirical models. Methods and Results. For the upper mixed layer, the turbulent energy dissipation rate ɛ and the exchange coefficient were calculated using the velocity fluctuation spectra based on the Kolmogorov hypotheses on the turbulence spectrum inertial range. In the stratified layers, the turbulence coefficient and the dissipation rate were experimentally determined both from the spectra of the velocity horizontal fluctuations’ gradients and the vertical spectra of temperature fluctuations using the concept of the effective scale of turbulent patches. Depending on the features of the hydrological regime and the prevailing energy contributors to turbulence generation, five layers were identified and described (including their characteristic power dependences of the vertical turbulent diffusion coefficients K on the buoyancy frequency N) using the 1.5D-model of vertical turbulent exchange for the basin under study. For the stratified layers, the 1.5D-model results were comparatively analyzed with those of the other semi-empirical and theoretical models describing the most probable hydrophysical processes in each specific layer; the relations for the vertical turbulent exchange coefficient were obtained depending on the buoyancy frequency. Conclusions. Comparison of the experimental data collected under different hydrometeorological conditions with the simulations resulted from the known turbulence models for the sea upper layer showed that the best agreement between the simulation and measurement data was provided by a multiscale model taking into account three basic mechanisms of turbulence generation: current velocity shear, instability of wave motions, and wave breaking. The turbulent exchange coefficient dependencies on depth are conditioned by the effect of the turbulence dominant source at a given level. In the stratified layers, the exchange coefficient dependence on buoyancy frequency is determined by the hydrophysical processes in each layer; the relations obtained for individual layers indicate intensity of the contributions of vertical advection, internal wave breakings, turbulence diffusion and geothermal flux.

Assessment of the Black Sea Temperature and Salinity Climatic Fields for the Recent Climatological Period (1991–2020)

Purpose. The purpose of the study is to assess the coefficient of vertical turbulent exchange for different layers of the Black Sea basin based on the experimental data on microstructure of the physical fields obtained for the period 2004–2019 in the Black Sea and using the semi-empirical models. Methods and Results. New array of the temperature and salinity climatic fields was assessed by the results of numerical experiments. In the experiment, annual variation of the Black Sea hydrophysical parameters was reconstructed by the numerical model. Modeling included the scheme of assimilating the data of the climatic temperature and salinity array assessed. In contrast to the averaged data of the field observations, the modeled fields are compliant with equations of motion. Besides the temperature and salinity three-dimensional fields, the three-dimensional climatic fields of the Black Sea currents were also reconstructed for each day of a climatic year that is quite impossible using the observational data only. Spatial-temporal variability of the modeled three-dimensional fields was analyzed. The integral characteristics of the Black Sea water dynamics for the recent 30-year climatic period were studied and compared with the analogous ones for the previous century. Simulation was carried out by three-dimensional non-linear model of the Black Sea dynamics developed in Marine Hydrophysical Institute. The horizontal resolution of the model was 5 km, and the EMODNet bathymetry was used. The performed calculations showed that the increased spatial resolution of the temperature and salinity climatic array for the recent period made it possible to reconstruct the dynamics of the Black Sea in all layers in more detail. At the same time, significant small-scale variability of salinity fields was revealed. It was most pronounced at the deep-water horizons. Conclusions. Modeling using a new array of thermohaline fields revealed an increase in the integral temperature of the upper mixed layer in comparison with the experiment with assimilation of the previous version of the climatic array. At that, thinning and «break» of the cold intermediate layer found in the central part of the sea, indicates warming of the sea upper layer during the last 30 years. The highest noise detected at the deep-water horizons in the modeled salinity fields is related to quantity and quality of the salinity data resulted from the field observations. Taking into account insufficient calibration facilities for measuring seawater electrical conductivity, the next version of climatic TS-array requires a more strict procedure for verifying and processing the observation data obtained in the deep-sea layers.

ПАРАМЕТРИЗАЦИЯ КОЭФФИЦИЕНТА ВЕРТИКАЛЬНОГО ТУРБУЛЕНТНОГО ОБМЕНА В РАМКАХ ПОДХОДА LES

The vertical turbulent exchange coefficient parametrization based on the LES approach is constructed in this paper. To implement this approach, water flow velocities pulsations full-scale data at some points of shallow-water systems obtained using an acoustic Doppler flow meter (ADCP) during expedition studies were filtered using two-stage Kalman algorithm, and then averaged, after which the LES approach was applied using subgrid turbulence model. The parametrization of the coefficient of vertical turbulent exchange is used in the wave hydrodynamics mathematical model.

Otsenka intensivnosti vertikal'nogo turbulentnogo obmena v sloye osnovnogo piknoklina na prikerchenskom uchastke shel'fa Chernogo morya

The paper investigates the seasonal variability of the vertical turbulent exchange coefficient in the upper stratified layer of the Black Sea. The expedition data used in this work containing information on the microstructure of physical fields were obtained in different hydrological seasons covering the northeastern part of the Black Sea in the Prikerchensky area of the shelf slope. The data were collected during cruises of r/v “Professor Vodyanitsky” in 2016–2019 using “Sigma-1” sounding complex. Based on the semi-empirical methods of assessment of vertical turbulent exchange in the deep-water area of the Black Sea, the dependence of the vertical turbulent diffusion coefficient K on the buoyancy frequency N in the studied layer was established from the flow fluctuation characteristics, with the corresponding graphs and their approximating power-law dependences K  A  N  plotting. In addition, the vertical distribution of the K coefficient with depth was analyzed. Comparative analysis of the obtained dependences with the results of the 1.5D model was carried out. The analysis of the measurement data showed that the results obtained in this work do not contradict the original model. The results can also be used to assess the vertical fluxes of heat, salt and other dissolved chemical and biological substances depending on stratification in the studied part of the Black Sea for different seasons.

Diapycnal mixing across the photic zone of the NE Atlantic

Abstract. Variable physical conditions such as vertical turbulent exchange, internal wave, and mesoscale eddy action affect the availability of light and nutrients for phytoplankton (unicellular algae) growth. It is hypothesized that changes in ocean temperature may affect ocean vertical density stratification, which may hamper vertical exchange. In order to quantify variations in physical conditions in the northeast Atlantic Ocean, we sampled a latitudinal transect along 17 ± 5∘ W between 30 and 63∘ N in summer. A shipborne conductivity–temperature–depth (CTD) instrumented package was used with a custom-made modification of the pump inlet to minimize detrimental effects of ship motions on its data. Thorpe-scale analysis was used to establish turbulence values for the upper 500 m from three to six profiles obtained in a short CTD yo-yo, 3 to 5 h after local sunrise. From south to north, average temperature decreased together with stratification while turbulence values weakly increased or remained constant. Vertical turbulent nutrient fluxes did not vary significantly with stratification and latitude. This apparent lack of correspondence between turbulent mixing and temperature is likely due to internal waves breaking (increased stratification can support more internal waves), acting as a potential feedback mechanism. As this feedback mechanism mediates potential physical environment changes in temperature, global surface ocean warming may not affect the vertical nutrient fluxes to a large degree. We urge modellers to test this deduction as it could imply that the future summer phytoplankton productivity in stratified oligotrophic waters would experience little alterations in nutrient input from deeper waters.

VARIOUS APPROXIMATIONS OF VERTICAL TURBULENT EXCHANGE PARAMETERIZATION FOR THE ANALYSIS OF THE WAVES HYDRODYNAMIC IMPACT ON THE BOTTOM OF THE RESERVOIR

The article discusses the possibilities of using various types of approximations for parametrization of vertical turbulent exchange for calculating and evaluating the hydrophysical characteristics of the wave regime in the accumulative coastal zone of the southwestern corner of the Tsimlyansk reservoir. It is impossible to carry out these studies without using various types and classes of approximations for parametrization of vertical turbulent mixing. Algebraic models for calculating the coefficient of vertical turbulent exchange and semi-empirical turbulence models are compared. Using ADCP data on velocity pulsations for several stations to measure hydrological characteristics, the results of parameterization of the vertical turbulent exchange coefficient were analyzed. The developed numerical algorithms and the software package implementing them are used to study the pressure field, the velocity vector field of the aquatic environment and the prediction of the baric field for this section of the reservoir water area.

Современные исследования динамики вод в северо-западной части Черного моря по данным LADCP

In this work a result of preliminary analysis of current measurements collected in fourteen large-scale expeditions of the Marine Hydrophysical Institute in 2016–2019 in the north-eastern part of the Black Sea is presented. It is shown that the use of the Lowered Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (LADCP) significantly increases the information content of the expedition materials, opening up new opportunities in the experimental study of water dynamics. Based on the materials of the expeditions, it was found that the upper layer of shear baroclinic currents in the measurement area is limited by the isopycnic depth with a potential density of ~16.75 kg/m3 (~350 m). At this depth, the variability of the buoyancy frequency with the depth changes from a power-law to an exponential dependence. The same depth limits the penetration of seasonal variations of the average kinetic energy into the water column. The highest values of the average kinetic energy are observed in April-May and November–December, the lowest—in June–August. The ratio of the maximum energy values (summer) to its minimum values (spring, late autumn, winter) was ~3. The Rim Black Sea Current is most pronounced near the Crimean Peninsula in the spring and winter seasons. In summer and autumn, the horizontal distribution of the current velocity in depths of 30–80 m is less structured, which is caused by the seasonal intensification of mesoscale processes. At a number of stations, the current velocity profiles contain fragments with a well-defined harmonic variability of the current velocity components with depth, which can be interpreted as the manifestation of near-inertial internal waves. In most cases, the rotation of the current velocity vector with depth occurs clockwise, which determines the main direction of propagation of the inertial internal waves into the water column. The example of one of the stations shows the significant contribution of such waves to the value of shear. This fact suggests a significant influence of near-inertial internal waves on the processes of vertical turbulent exchange in the water column.

A one-dimensional model of turbulent flow through “urban” canopies (MLUCM v2.0): updates based on large-eddy simulation

Abstract. In mesoscale climate models, urban canopy flow is typically parameterized in terms of the horizontally averaged (1-D) flow and scalar transport, and these parameterizations can be informed by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of the urban climate at the microscale. Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes simulation (RANS) models have previously been employed to derive vertical profiles of turbulent length scale and drag coefficient for such parameterization. However, there is substantial evidence that RANS models fall short in accurately representing turbulent flow fields in the urban roughness sublayer. When compared with more accurate flow modeling such as large-eddy simulations (LES), we observed that vertical profiles of turbulent kinetic energy and associated turbulent length scales obtained from RANS models are substantially smaller specifically in the urban canopy. Accordingly, using LES results, we revisited the urban canopy parameterizations employed in the one-dimensional model of turbulent flow through urban areas and updated the parameterization of turbulent length scale and drag coefficient. Additionally, we included the parameterization of the dispersive stress, previously neglected in the 1-D column model. For this objective, the PArallelized Large-Eddy Simulation Model (PALM) is used and a series of simulations in an idealized urban configuration with aligned and staggered arrays are considered. The plan area density (λp) is varied from 0.0625 to 0.44 to span a wide range of urban density (from sparsely developed to compact midrise neighborhoods, respectively). In order to ensure the accuracy of the simulation results, we rigorously evaluated the PALM results by comparing the vertical profiles of turbulent kinetic energy and Reynolds stresses with wind tunnel measurements, as well as other available LES and direct numerical simulation (DNS) studies. After implementing the updated drag coefficients and turbulent length scales in the 1-D model of urban canopy flow, we evaluated the results by (a) testing the 1-D model against the original LES results and demonstrating the differences in predictions between new (derived from LES) and old (derived from RANS) versions of the 1-D model, and (b) testing the 1-D model against LES results for a test case with realistic geometries. Results suggest a more accurate prediction of vertical turbulent exchange in urban canopies, which can consequently lead to an improved prediction of urban heat and pollutant dispersion at the mesoscale.

On Application of Prandtl-Obukhov Formula in the Numerical Model of the Turbulent Layer Depth Dynamics

A numerical simulation of the penetration of the turbulent layer in a stably stratified fluid under the action of tangential stress was performed. For the coefficient of vertical turbulent exchange, the Prandtl–Obukhov formula is used. The results of the calculations are consistent with known experimental data and calculations by other authors