Identifying turbulent coherent structures during LLJ events

ORAL

Abstract

Turbulent structures in the unstable atmospheric boundary layer have been extensively studied in the past. However our recent research show that the state-of-the art Weather Research \& Forecasting model (WRF) model needs improvement in the simulation of nocturnal low level jet (LLJ) characteristics. Under these scenarios, the nocturnal stable boundary layer offers some gray areas to explore, particularly when conditions of high stability and strong vertical wind shear occur. Furthermore, the interactions of nighttime intermittent turbulence (high frequency) with coherent structures play an essential role in transport processes. In the present study, using wavelet analysis techniques, the WRF large-eddy simulation data are evaluated for coherent structure features during LLJ occurrences over the West Texas region. Those structural attributes will be compared to those observed by the high frequency (50 Hz) of the 200-meter meteorological tower (Reese, West Texas Mesonet). Additionally, the meteorological tower data are used to evaluate the influence of data acquisition frequency on small turbulent scale detection.

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Authors

  • Velayudhan Praju Kiliyanpilakkil

    North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

  • Guillermo Araya

    Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, National Wind Resources Center, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University

  • Sukanta Basu

    North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

  • Arquimedes Ruiz-Columbie

    Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, National Wind Institute, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA, Texas Tech University

  • Walter Gutierrez

    Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, National Wind Resources Center, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA

  • Luciano Castillo

    Texas Tech University, Texas Technical University, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, National Wind Resources Center, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Texas Tech Univ