The results of the turbulent heat flux obtained by airborne measurements over flat terrain and coastal areas are reported, and the structure of the atmospheric boundary layer under the condition of clear daytime is investigated.
The main results are summarized as follows:
(1) In clear daytime, turbulent heat flux q over land decreases linearly with height in the lower layer and q becomes zero at some height, Z
q. It then has a negative peak at about a height of 1.3 Z
q and its absolute value is about 20% of the surface value of q. The height Z
q coincides with the height of the inversion base of the potential temperature.
(2) By the analyses of the balance of turbulent energy in the atmospheric boundary layer under clear daytime conditions, we have reached the conclusion that the buoyant energy production balances the dissipation rate of the turbulent energy.
(3) Under sea-breeze conditions, the temperature variation with time can be explained by the heating due to q and the cooling due to the advection of the cool sea-breeze.
(4) The height of the internal boundary layer formed by the thermal convection is investigated and the relation between Z
q and x/U (where x is the distance from the coastline along the wind direction and U is mean wind velocity) is obtained.
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