Sources of anisotropy in the Reynolds stress tensor in the stable boundary layer. (3rd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gucci, Federica; Giovannini, Lorenzo; Stiperski, Ivana; Zardi, Dino; Vercauteren, Nikki
• Is Part Of: Quarterly journal of the Royal Meteorological Society. Volume 149:Number 750(2023)
• Page Start: 277
• Page End: 299
• Publication Date: 2023-01-03
• Subjects: anisotropy -- internal waves -- inverse cascade -- linear detrending -- stable boundary layer -- stratified turbulence -- wind speed threshold; Meteorology -- Periodicals; 551.5
• DOI: 10.1002/qj.4407
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-9009

Abstract

Abstract: Data collected by 12 sonic anemometers over the Plaine Morte Glacier (Swiss Alps) during the Snow Horizontal Arrays Turbulence Study are used to investigate sources of anisotropy in the Reynolds stress tensor for stable boundary layers. A coarse‐graining approach is applied to evaluate transfers of kinetic energy across scales, and internal gravity waves (IGWs) are detected with a suitable criterion. Both approaches are combined with a classification of anisotropy based on the barycentric map of 1 min Reynolds stress tensors. A wind‐speed threshold is found that discriminates between regimes with a different dominant topology of the Reynolds stress tensor. One‐component and isotropic states are frequent for low wind speed and strong stratification, whereas two‐component axisymmetric states dominate the high wind speed regime with strong vertical shear. Results suggest that the presence of IGWs is mostly responsible for one‐component states, and additionally influences the relative amount of kinetic and potential energy in the perturbation field. To provide supporting evidence, a complementary analysis of a clean IGW detected during a field campaign in Dumosa (Australia) is presented. This case study highlights how waves contribute to drive the Reynolds stress tensor towards the one‐component limit. Cases are shown where a linear detrending procedure may be effective in filtering out waves and avoid their spurious contributions in turbulence statistics. Abstract : A proper representation of the stable boundary layer needs an improvement of the classical theories adopted so far to describe boundary‐layer flows. This study investigates the physical processes leading to turbulence anisotropy, characterised by one‐component Reynolds stress tensors for weak‐wind very stable conditions. Results suggest that the presence of internal gravity waves is mostly responsible for one‐component states, and anisotropy depends on the relation between the window used to define turbulence quantities and the wave period.