Describing surface fluxes in katabatic flow on Breidamerkurjökull, Iceland

Abstract

Abstract For very stable boundary layers there is no well‐accepted theory today. In this study, an improved Prandtl model with varying diffusivity is applied to less than ideal conditions for pure katabatic flow pertaining to very stable boundary layers. We find that the improved Prandtl model adequately describes the usual and persistent katabatic glacier wind on Breidamerkurjökull. This is true even for flows with very different heights and strengths of the jet. A theoretical estimate of the katabatic jet height, based on temperature deficit and lapse rate, is verified. The calculated surface fluxes compare well with the measured turbulence parameters. A possible reason for the robustness of the katabatic jet (and other low‐level jets) is given in terms of the Scorer parameter. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society.