Power Laws and the Empirical Representation of Velocity and Directional Shear

Abstract

Wind profiles over a smooth frozen sea were used to determine the exponent in the empirical power laws for wind modulus and both horizontal components. Classification according to stability shows the expected trend but within a large scatter owing to the incapacity of the nonuniversal coefficients to match a wide range of conditions. Comparison with other results is discussed in the framework of the more relevant general similarity theory including the boundary layer height h, since surface layer theory predictions cannot be extrapolated to very great heights. Power laws corresponding to vertically averaged profiles are recommended for statistical or climatological studies.