On Monin-Obukhov similarity in the stable atmospheric boundary layer

Atmospheric measurements from several field experiments have been combined to develop a better understanding of the turbulence structure of the stable atmospheric boundary layer. Fast response wind velocity and temperature da ta have been recorded using 3-dimensional sonic anemometers, placed at seve ral heights (approximate to1 m to 4.3 m) above the ground. The measurements were used to calculate the standard deviations of the three components of the wind velocity, temperature, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) dissipation and temperature variance dissipation. These data were normalized and plotte d according to Monin-Obukhov similarity theory. The non-dimensional turbule nce statistics have been computed, in part, to investigate the general appl icability of the concept of z-less stratification for stable conditions. Fr om the analysis of a data set covering almost five orders of magnitude in t he stability parameter zeta = z/L (from near-neutral to very stable atmosph eric stability), it was found that this concept does not hold in general. I t was only for the non-dimensional standard deviation of temperature and th e average dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy that z-less behaviou r has been found. The other variables studied here (non-dimensional standar d deviations of u, v, and w velocity components and dissipation of temperat ure variance) did not follow the concept of z-less stratification for the v ery stable atmospheric boundary layer. An imbalance between production and dissipation of TKE was found for the near-neutral limit approached from the stable regime, which matches with previous results for near-neutral stabil ity approached from the unstable regime.