Significance of the Neutral Height Scale for the Convective, Barotropic Planetary Boundary Layer

Abstract

The relevance of the neutral height scale u*/f, for the convective, barotropic planetary boundary layer is explored using the results of a second-order closure model. The model results clearly show that the parameter Z1/u* is significant for the lateral component V of the mean wind and the correlations involving the lateral component v of the fluctuating motion, viz, vw and V?. The results of the model can be explained on the basis of a plausible hypothesis involving the ratio of the convective time scale to the Coriolis time scale.