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A numerical investigation of boundary layer quasi‐equilibrium
Author(s) -
ThayerCalder K.,
Randall David
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2014gl062649
Subject(s) - entrainment (biomusicology) , boundary layer , convective boundary layer , turbulence , convection , evaporation , mechanics , meteorology , planetary boundary layer , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , materials science , physics , rhythm , acoustics
Despite the large energy input from surface evaporation, the moist static energy (MSE) of the tropical boundary layer remains relatively constant on large spatial and temporal scales due to lifting of vapor by cloudy updrafts and the addition of dry air from the layers above. Arakawa and Schubert (1974) suggested that drying is due mainly to clear‐air turbulent entrainment between cloudy updrafts, while Raymond (1995) described drying due mainly to convective downdrafts. We used cloud‐resolving numerical simulations to investigate the transport of MSE into the boundary layer and found turbulent entrainment between clouds to be the dominant process.