Impact of surface-heterogeneity on atmosphere and land-surface interactions. (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Shaofeng; Shao, Yaping; Kunoth, Angela; Simmer, Clemens
• Is Part Of: Environmental modelling & software. Volume 88(2017)
• Page Start: 35
• Page End: 47
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: Land-surface pattern -- Heterogeneity -- Large-eddy simulation -- Wavelets -- Multi-scale analysis; Environmental monitoring -- Computer programs -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Computer simulation -- Periodicals; Digital computer simulation -- Periodicals; Computer software -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Computer Simulation -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Logiciels -- Périodiques; Écologie -- Simulation, Méthodes de -- Périodiques; Simulation par ordinateur -- Périodiques; Logiciels -- Périodiques; Computer software; Digital computer simulation; Ecology -- Computer simulation; Environmental monitoring -- Computer programs; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.70015118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2016.11.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-8152

Abstract

Abstract: Land-surface heterogeneity occurs on many scales, but its inclusion remains an unsolved problem in land-surface and atmospheric boundary-layer schemes for weather and climate models. We investigate the propagation of land-surface heterogeneity in a convective boundary layer using an atmosphere and land-surface coupled large-eddy model. Simulations are made for land surfaces of different heterogeneity scales and a uniform land surface. A multi-scale analysis is carried out and it is found that while domain-and-time averaged fluxes and state variables are not sensitive to land-surface heterogeneity, atmospheric patterns are. Close to the surface, atmospheric patterns are dominated by land-surface forced patterns; away from the surface, "eigen" patterns dominate and forced patterns reemerge for large averaging times. While small-scale land-surface features are more rapidly destroyed by turbulence, large-scale features can persist over hundreds of meters. Highlights: A model has been developed for atmosphere and land-surface coupled large-eddy simulation. Multi-scale wavelets analysis is used to study the propagation and persistency of land-surface patterns in the atmosphere. Instantaneous atmospheric patterns are insensitive to land-surface heterogeneity. Large spatial and longtime averaged atmospheric patterns are sensitive to land-surface patterns.