Vertical diffusion in the lowest layers of the atmosphere

Abstract

Abstract A semi‐empirical treatment of the vertical diffusion of matter in the lowest layers of the atmosphere is given in the following and shown to be in good agreement with the results of carefully conducted field experiments made over two different types of natural land surface. The present work extends the treatment of diffusion in an adiabatic atmosphere given by Calder (1948) by allowing for the effects of thermal stratification. The treatment is based on the results of an extensive investigation of vertical profiles of mean wind velocity in the lowest ten metres of the atmosphere (mainly carried out at the Chemical Defence Experimental Station, Porton, Salisbury Plain). A complete account of this study will probably be published as a Geophysical Memoir of the Meteorological Office.