Spectral Scales in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer

Abstract

Wind measurements from the Savannah River Laboratory-WJBF-TV tower in Beech Island, South Carolina were used to compute turbulence parameters which were then compared with similarity theory predictions summarized by Hanna (1981a). The parameters computed were standard deviations of the fluctuating velocity components σu, σv and σw, and spectral scales ?m and lE. The correlation coefficients were highest for the standard deviations of the velocity components σu, σv and σw. The averaged correlation coefficients for all three components were 0.60, 0.45 and 0.72 for unstable, stable and neutral conditions, respectively. The averaged correlation coefficients between computed and measured spectral maxima ?mu, ?mv and ?mw were 0.66 for stable conditions and 0.65 for neutral conditions. Very low correlations of ?0.11 and 0.01 were obtained for ?mu and ?mv in unstable conditions. The vertical wavelength ?mu., however, had a correlation coefficient of 0.59 between measured and predicted values.