Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Lidar-Observed Stress Vectors and Veer in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer

Jacob Berg Technical University of Denmark, Risø Campus, Roskilde, Denmark

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Jakob Mann Technical University of Denmark, Risø Campus, Roskilde, Denmark

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Edward G. Patton National Center for Atmospheric Research,* Boulder, Colorado

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Print Publication:
01 Sep 2013
Collections:
16th International Symposium for the Advancement of Boundary-Layer Remote Sensing (ISARS 2012)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-12-00266.1
Page(s):
1961–1969
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Abstract

This study demonstrates that a pulsed wind lidar is a reliable instrument for measuring angles between horizontal vectors of significance in the atmospheric boundary layer. Three different angles are considered: the wind turning, the angle between the stress vector and the mean wind direction, and the angle between the stress vector and the vertical gradient of the mean velocity vector. The latter is assumed to be zero by the often applied turbulent-viscosity hypothesis, so that the stress vector can be described through the vertical gradient of velocity. In the atmospheric surface layer, where the Coriolis force is negligible, this is supposedly a good approximation. High-resolution large-eddy simulation data show that this is indeed the case even beyond the surface layer. In contrast, through analysis of WindCube lidar measurements supported by sonic measurements, the study shows that it is only valid very close to the surface. The deviation may be significant even at 100 m. This behavior is attributed to mesoscale effects.

The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

Corresponding author address: Jacob Berg, Department of Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark, Risø Campus, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark. E-mail: jbej@dtu.dk

This article is included in the ISARS 2012 special collection.

Abstract

This study demonstrates that a pulsed wind lidar is a reliable instrument for measuring angles between horizontal vectors of significance in the atmospheric boundary layer. Three different angles are considered: the wind turning, the angle between the stress vector and the mean wind direction, and the angle between the stress vector and the vertical gradient of the mean velocity vector. The latter is assumed to be zero by the often applied turbulent-viscosity hypothesis, so that the stress vector can be described through the vertical gradient of velocity. In the atmospheric surface layer, where the Coriolis force is negligible, this is supposedly a good approximation. High-resolution large-eddy simulation data show that this is indeed the case even beyond the surface layer. In contrast, through analysis of WindCube lidar measurements supported by sonic measurements, the study shows that it is only valid very close to the surface. The deviation may be significant even at 100 m. This behavior is attributed to mesoscale effects.

The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

Corresponding author address: Jacob Berg, Department of Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark, Risø Campus, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark. E-mail: jbej@dtu.dk

This article is included in the ISARS 2012 special collection.

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