A note on scalar-gradient sharpening in the stable atmospheric boundary layer

Journal article (2020)

Authors

J.A. van Hooft Atmospheric Remote Sensing - CEG
Research Group
Atmospheric Remote Sensing (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2020 J.A. van Hooft
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-020-00516-x
Direct numerical simulation Stable boundary layer Dipolar vortex Scalar fronts Temperature ramps
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Published Date

2020

Language

English

Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Geoscience and Remote Sensing

Research Group

Atmospheric Remote Sensing

Abstract

The scalar front generated by the horizontal self advection of a dipolar vortex through a mod-est scalar gradient is investigated. This physical scenario is an idealization of the emergenceof strong temperature ramps in the stable atmospheric boundary layer. The proposed mecha-nism is discussed and a two-dimensional analogy is studied in depth using direct numericalsimulation. More specifically, the scalar-gradient sharpening is investigated as a function ofthe Reynolds number. It appears that the process of gradient sharpening at large-eddy scalesmay be challenging for turbulence-resolving methods applied to the stable-boundary-layerregime.