New insight is obtained into the structure of the
convective atmospheric boundary layer
(CBL) over surface heat flux variation on a scale of
the order of 10 km. Aircraft data collected during
the International H2O Project (IHOP_2002) and large
eddy simulation (LES) are used.
The new insight includes the followings:
First, the CBL changes from a quasi-stationary
state to a non-stationary state when forced by a
high-amplitude surface heat flux variation.
Second, the structure of the CBL in a
non-stationary state cannot be described with the
mixed-layer similarity.
Third, moisture advection by the
surface-heterogeneity-induced mesoscale horizontal
flows plays a significant role in initiating moist
convection.
convective atmospheric boundary layer
(CBL) over surface heat flux variation on a scale of
the order of 10 km. Aircraft data collected during
the International H2O Project (IHOP_2002) and large
eddy simulation (LES) are used.
The new insight includes the followings:
First, the CBL changes from a quasi-stationary
state to a non-stationary state when forced by a
high-amplitude surface heat flux variation.
Second, the structure of the CBL in a
non-stationary state cannot be described with the
mixed-layer similarity.
Third, moisture advection by the
surface-heterogeneity-induced mesoscale horizontal
flows plays a significant role in initiating moist
convection.