Turbulence Structure of the Convective Boundary Layer. Part I. Variability of Normalized Turbulence Statistics

Abstract

Profiles of turbulence statistics from aircraft observations of the Phoenix 78 convective boundary layer experiment are compared with those from previous observational and modeling studies. The sources and degree of variability of the normalized results, both within and between experiments, are discussed. The intercomparison provides evidence that moderately rolling terrain does not bias convective boundary layer turbulence structure away from that observed over more uniform terrain. The manner in which cross inversion entrainment affects turbulence in the atmosphere and in models is also discussed.