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A criticism of Bernstein's new dimensional approach to the flux‐gradient relationships near the ground
Author(s) -
Calder K. L.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.49709339815
Subject(s) - convection , flux (metallurgy) , temperature gradient , meteorology , physics , geology , mathematics , mechanics , materials science , metallurgy
This paper discusses Bernstein's application of a generalized method of dimensional analysis, proposed by Huntley, to the Monin‐Obukhov problem of the flux‐gradient relationships in the thermally stratified air layer near the ground. It is concluded that the Huntley method is not a valid general procedure although, in disagreement with a conclusion of Bernstein, it is shown that the purely formal use of this technique leads to results that are actually valid under the very special conditions of free convection. This circumstance arises from the absence of any characteristic length scale under conditions of free convection in the surface layer.