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The heat flux and the temperature gradient in the lower atmosphere
Author(s) -
Higgins Chad W.,
Parlange Marc B.,
Meneveau Charles
Publication year - 2004
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 - 10.1029/2004gl020053
Subject(s) - temperature gradient , heat flux , atmosphere (unit) , eddy diffusion , planetary boundary layer , flux (metallurgy) , atmospheric sciences , mechanics , atmospheric instability , boundary layer , physics , environmental science , heat transfer , turbulence , meteorology , materials science , metallurgy , wind speed
Most parameterizations used in Large Eddy Simulations of the atmospheric boundary layer are based on the assumption that subgrid‐scale fluxes are aligned against spatial gradients of transported quantities (down‐gradient closures). Based on field experiments, we determine the distribution and most probable relative orientations of the subgrid‐scale (SGS) heat flux relative to parameterizations based on the temperature gradient. We show that, under neutral and unstable atmospheric stability, the SGS heat flux most likely lies within the geometric span of the so called mixed tensor eddy diffusivity model.