Modelling the effects of surface heterogeneity on the internal boundary layer during a diurnal cycle

• To characterize the effects of subgrid surface heterogeneity, the blending height concept has been developed as a coupling strategy for surface parameterization schemes used in numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. Previous modelling studies have tested this concept using stationary conditions with one-dimensional strips of surface roughness. Here, Large Eddy Simulations (LES) are used to examine the response of the blending height and effective surface roughness to two-dimensional chessboard patterns of alternating high and low vegetation given a diurnal cycle of solar irradiance. In each experiment, the length scale of the roughness elements is increased while the total domain fraction of each vegetation type is kept constant. The effective surface roughness was found to decrease with increasing length scale of surface cover heterogeneity, which is shown to have a significant impact on estimated wind turbine power calculated from logarithmic wind profiles. In stable conditions, the blending height in cases with large heterogeneity length scales was found to exist well above the surface layer. As the behavior of the blending height has implications for coupled models, a simple model for the blending height as a function of heterogeneity length scale is introduced.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Meteorologi och atmosfärforskning (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Onshore wind energy

Cold Climate

Land Cover

Icing

Meteorologi

Meteorology

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)