Turbulence Structure of the Convective Boundary Layer. Part III: The Vertical Velocity Budgets of Thermals and Their Environment

George S. Young Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

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Abstract

The dynamics of thermal updrafts and compensating environmental downdrafts in the convective boundary layer are examined using observations from the Phoenix 78 field experiment. Separate vertical velocity budgets are presented for thermal updrafts and environmental downdrafts. These two budgets show the existence of qualitative differences in the forcing of the two leg of the convective circulations.

Abstract

The dynamics of thermal updrafts and compensating environmental downdrafts in the convective boundary layer are examined using observations from the Phoenix 78 field experiment. Separate vertical velocity budgets are presented for thermal updrafts and environmental downdrafts. These two budgets show the existence of qualitative differences in the forcing of the two leg of the convective circulations.

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