Title
Regime transitions in near-surface temperature inversions: A conceptual model
Author
van de Wiel, B.J.H. (TU Delft Atmospheric Remote Sensing) 
Vignon, Etienne (Université Grenoble Alpes; ENS-PSL Research University & CNRS)
Baas, P. (TU Delft Atmospheric Remote Sensing)
van Hooijdonk, I.G.S. (Eindhoven University of Technology)
van der Linden, S.J.A. (TU Delft Atmospheric Remote Sensing)
van Hooft, J.A. (TU Delft Atmospheric Remote Sensing)
Bosveld, Fred C. (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI))
de Roode, S.R. (TU Delft Atmospheric Physics)
Moene, Arnold F. (Wageningen University & Research)
Genthon, Christophe (Université Grenoble Alpes; ENS-PSL Research University & CNRS)
Date
2017-04-01
Abstract
A conceptual model is used in combination with observational analysis to understand regime transitions of near-surface temperature inversions at night as well as in Arctic conditions. The model combines a surface energy budget with a bulk parameterization for turbulent heat transport. Energy fluxes or feedbacks due to soil and radiative heat transfer are accounted for by a "lumped parameter closure," which represents the "coupling strength" of the system. Observations from Cabauw, Netherlands, and Dome C, Antarctica, are analyzed. As expected, inversions are weak for strong winds, whereas large inversions are found under weak-wind conditions. However, a sharp transition is found between those regimes, as it occurs within a narrow wind range. This results in a typical S-shaped dependency. The conceptual model explains why this characteristic must be a robust feature. Differences between the Cabauw and Dome C cases are explained from differences in coupling strength (being weaker in the Antarctic). For comparison, a realistic column model is run. As findings are similar to the simple model and the observational analysis, it suggests generality of the results. Theoretical analysis reveals that, in the transition zone near the critical wind speed, the response time of the system to perturbations becomes large. As resilience to perturbations becomes weaker, it may explain why, within this wind regime, an increase of scatter is found. Finally, the so-called heat flux duality paradox is analyzed. It is explained why numerical simulations with prescribed surface fluxes show a dynamical response different from more realistic surface-coupled systems.
Subject
Boundary layer
Inversions
Nonlinear models
Snow
Surface observations
Thermodynamics
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:18bf4e03-a850-43cd-9fc2-e7c6dffbd1b0
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-16-0180.1
ISSN
0022-4928
Source
Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 74 (4), 1057-1073
Part of collection
Institutional Repository
Document type
journal article
Rights
© 2017 B.J.H. van de Wiel, Etienne Vignon, P. Baas, I.G.S. van Hooijdonk, S.J.A. van der Linden, J.A. van Hooft, Fred C. Bosveld, S.R. de Roode, Arnold F. Moene, Christophe Genthon