ESTIMATION OF THE ATMOSPHERIC SURFACE MOMENTUM AND HEAT FLUXES USING A HIGH-RESOLUTION ACOUSTIC RADAR

The surface heat flux (Q(O)) and the friction velocity (u) are import ant parameters of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL). Vertical veloc ity variance (sigma(w)2) profiles have been used to estimate the param eters Q(O) and u from Acoustic Sounder (AS) data according to the sim ilarity theory. A comparison was made using data from a 12 m high mast equipped with humidity, and fast responding wind and temperature sens ors and a high resolution monostatic AS. The comparison confirms the a bility of the sigma(w)2 profile method to provide, even in a noisy env ironment (inhabitant area), estimates of these parameters with reasona ble accuracy and on a continuous basis. The requirements for the metho d to be applied is that convective conditions or a minimum mechanical mixing exist and the level of acoustic noise is not too high.