Flux Richardson number measurements in stable atmospheric shear flows

Abstract

The flux Richardson number R f (also known as the mixing efficiency) for the stably stratified atmospheric boundary layer is investigated as a function of the gradient Richardson number Ri g using data taken during two field studies: the Vertical Transport and Mixing Experiment (VTMX) in Salt Lake City, Utah (October 2000), and a long-term rural field data set from Technical Area 6 (TA-6) at Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico. The results show the existence of a maximum R f (0.4–0.5) at a gradient Richardson number of approximately unity. These large-Reynolds-number results agree well with recent laboratory stratified shear layer measurements, but are at odds with some commonly used R f parameterizations, particularly under high- Ri g conditions. The observed variations in buoyancy flux and turbulent kinetic energy production are consistent with the concept of global intermittency of the atmospheric stable boundary layer.