Stable Surface-Based Turbulent Layer During the Polar Winter at Dome C, Antarctica: Sodar and In Situ Observations

Petenko, Igor; Argentini, Stefania; Casasanta, Giampietro; Genthon, Christophe; Kallistratova, M. A.

doi:10.1007/s10546-018-0419-6

Cited by 47 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 68 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Figure 10 presents the evolution of the turbulent boundary layer depth (defined as the height where the stress has been reduced to 5% of its surface value) for the selected cases. Strong 10-m inversions are related to boundary layers of 10 m and less, while in the weakly stable state the depth of the turbulent layer regularly exceeds 30-40 m. Similar results are found by Petenko et al (2019) who analysed SODAR observations obtained during the polar winter at Dome C. So far, many features of the dynamics of the inverted "S" curve at Dome C could be explained by analysing the evolution of the external forcings and the (vertical divergence of the) turbulent fluxes. However, one essential element remains elusive, namely the increase in the 10-m temperature (cf.…”

Section: Analysis Of Selected Events: Momentum and Temperature Budgetssupporting

confidence: 84%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Transitions in the wintertime near‐surface temperature inversion at Dome C, Antarctica

Baas

Wiel

Meijgaard

et al. 2019

Quart J Royal Meteoro Soc

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this work we study the dynamics of the surface‐based temperature inversion over the Antarctic Plateau during the polar winter. Using 6 years of observations from the French–Italian Antarctic station Concordia at Dome C, we investigate sudden regime transitions in the strength of the near‐surface temperature inversion. Here we define “near‐surface” as being within the domain of the 45‐m measuring tower. In particular, we consider the strongly nonlinear relation between the 10‐m inversion strength ( T 10m – T s ) and the 10‐m wind speed. To this end, all individual events for which the 10‐m inversion strength increases or decreases continuously by more than 15 K in time are considered. Composite time series and vertical profiles of wind and temperature reveal specific characteristics of the transition from weak to very strong inversions and vice versa. In contrast to midlatitudes, the largest variations in temperature are not found at the surface but at a height of 10 m. A similar analysis was performed on results from an atmospheric single‐column model (SCM). Overall, the SCM results reproduce the observed characteristics of the transitions in the near‐surface inversion remarkably well. Using model output, the underlying mechanisms of the regime transitions are identified. The nonlinear relation between inversion strength and wind speed at a given level is explained by variations in the geostrophic wind speed, changes in the depth of the turbulent layer and the vertical divergence of turbulent fluxes. Moreover, the transitions between different boundary layer regimes cannot be explained without considering the contribution of subsidence heating.

show abstract

Section: Analysis Of Selected Events: Momentum and Temperature Budgetssupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Strong 10‐m inversions are related to boundary layers of 10 m and less, while in the weakly stable state the depth of the turbulent layer regularly exceeds 30–40 m. Similar results are found by Petenko et al . () who analysed SODAR observations obtained during the polar winter at Dome C.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transitions in the wintertime near‐surface temperature inversion at Dome C, Antarctica

Baas

Wiel

Meijgaard

et al. 2019

Quart J Royal Meteoro Soc

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…High‐frequency (10 Hz) velocity and temperature were recorded at 3.5 m above ground with EC in Dome C, Antarctica (Vignon, Genthon, et al, , Vignon, van de Wiel, et al, ). The temperature gradient in the stable ABL was obtained from balloon sounding measurements (Petenko et al, ). Sixty periods of 30‐min observation in the stable ABL from 9 to 12 January 2015 were selected (Table ).…”

Section: Field Observations and Numerical Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The instruments had a standard deviation of 0.002 • for temperature measurements. Eighteen periods of 15 min in the stable ABL were selected (Table 1) in the stable ABL was obtained from balloon sounding measurements (Petenko et al, 2019). Sixty periods of 30-min observation in the stable ABL from 9 to 12 January 2015 were selected ( Table 1).…”

Section: Observations Of the Stable Ablmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Model for Turbulence Spectra in the Equilibrium Range of the Stable Atmospheric Boundary Layer

Cheng

Argentini

et al. 2020

JGR Atmospheres

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Stratification can cause turbulence spectra to deviate from Kolmogorov's isotropic −5false/3 power law scaling in the universal equilibrium range at high Reynolds numbers. However, a consensus has not been reached with regard to the exact shape of the spectra. Here we propose a shape of the turbulent kinetic energy and temperature spectra in horizontal wavenumber for the equilibrium range that consists of three regimes at small Froude number: the buoyancy subrange, a transition region, and the isotropic inertial subrange through dimensional analysis and substantial revision of previous theoretical approximation. These spectral regimes are confirmed by various observations in the atmospheric boundary layer. The representation of the transition region in direct numerical simulations will require large‐scale separation between the Dougherty‐Ozmidov scale and the Kolmogorov scale for strongly stratified turbulence at high Reynolds numbers, which is still challenging computationally. In addition, we suggest that the failure of Monin‐Obukhov similarity theory in the very stable atmospheric boundary layer is due to the fact that it does not consider the buoyancy scale that characterizes the transition region.

show abstract

“…Without a clear separation of scales, the turbulence may not be able to maintain equilibrium with the changing submeso flow. Petenko et al (2019) finds a general absence of organized temperature variations in thin very stable boundary layers except for sporadic elevated bursts of turbulence. However, in the deeper, less stable boundary layer, they find two subclasses, one with significant organized submeso variation of temperature and one without such structure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Small-Scale Variability in the Nocturnal Boundary Layer

Mahrt

Pfister

Thomas

2019

Boundary-Layer Meteorol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Nocturnal variations of temperature and wind are examined at three contrasting sites. After the early evening period of rapid cooling, the magnitude of the variations of temperature on a time scale of 10 min to an hour often become larger than the corresponding temperature change due to the nocturnal trend. These shorter-term temperature variations are forced by wave-like motions and more complex modes. Observations from a network of stations across a shallow valley at one of the sites are analyzed in more detail. Typically, decreasing wind speed corresponds to less mixing and lower temperature at the surface followed by increasing wind speed, increased mixing, and higher temperatures. The flow may continue to switch back and forth between these two states for much of the night. These non-stationary motions interact with motions induced by the gentle local topography, leading to intermittent local drainage flows, transient cold pools, and both propagating and semi-stationary microfronts.

show abstract

Stable Surface-Based Turbulent Layer During the Polar Winter at Dome C, Antarctica: Sodar and In Situ Observations

Cited by 47 publications

References 68 publications

Transitions in the wintertime near‐surface temperature inversion at Dome C, Antarctica

Transitions in the wintertime near‐surface temperature inversion at Dome C, Antarctica

A Model for Turbulence Spectra in the Equilibrium Range of the Stable Atmospheric Boundary Layer

Small-Scale Variability in the Nocturnal Boundary Layer

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About