Turbulent Atmospheric Parameters by Contaminant Deposition

Abstract

Many contaminant or smoke-puff experiments have been performed in the atmosphere to determine certain significant parameters of atmospheric turbulence. This paper presents a reanalysis of some of these experiments, using a technique suggested by Frenkiel and Katz. The results show that the similarity theory of Batchelor, as suggested by Gifford, and the, subsequent theory of Lin, explain atmospheric turbulence for the case of low wind shears. Turbulent dispersion in the presence of high wind shears, however, follows the diffusion relation theorized by Tchen. Values for ?, the rate of eddy-energy density dissipation per unit mass, are measured, substantiating some of Gifford's estimates; also measured are the universal and absolute constants C1, and α respectively, of Batchelor, and u2 the turbulent energy density per unit mass, which are compared to some measurements of Frenkiel and Katz, and of Kellogg.