Collaborative Research: Theoretical and observational investigations of multi-point Monin-Obukhov similarity in the convective atmospheric surface layer

该项目研究大气边界层（ABL）-大气层的最低部分（白天高度约1-2公里）。湍流是造成飞行颠簸的常见原因，对人类活动和环境有着巨大的影响。ABL中湍流的主流理论--莫宁-奥布霍夫相似理论（MOST），虽然在许多方面是成功的，但也有一些重大的缺陷。它最突出的问题是无法预测近地面的大规模风波动，这对许多大气应用产生了负面影响。Tong博士在这个项目上最近开发了一种新的理论，多点Monin-Obukhov相似性理论（MMO），以克服MOST的缺点。在这个项目中，研究人员将进一步发展该理论，并进行实地活动，系统地验证它。改善对MMO提供的ABL湍流的理解和预测，可以对开发天气预报，空气污染，大气化学和风能的预测模型产生广泛的影响。该项目将为博士后研究人员以及研究生和本科生提供参与项目各个方面的机会。此外，与负责部署一套研究仪器的国家大气研究中心（NCAR）的科学家和工程师合作，研究团队将在加利福尼亚州凯特尔曼市附近的实地活动现场为K-12学生举办实地考察，以演示如何测量湍流和其他气象变量。研究人员将进一步开发基于第一性原理的白天ABL相似性特性的综合预测，以解释观测到的ABL条件的影响，并了解潜在的物理学。将与NCAR合作开展一项实地活动，全面测量整个边界层深度的平均速度和温度分布以及表层的湍流谱。测量中将使用一套仪器，包括一个声波风速计阵列、三个多普勒激光雷达、一个气溶胶激光雷达、一个微脉冲激光雷达、一个分布式温度测量系统、一个无线电声学探测系统、一个四轴飞行器温度系统和无线电探空仪。对于每个统计量，将使用多个仪器，每个仪器覆盖不同的身高范围或比例范围，以实现所需的总体身高和比例范围。现场数据将被用来系统地验证尺度预测，并建立（扩展）系数的理论和MMO相似函数的功能形式的湍流谱和平均profiles.This奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

This project investigates the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL)---the lowest portion of the atmosphere (approximately 1-2 km in height during daytime). Turbulence, which is responsible for commonly experienced bumpy flights, has an enormous impact on human activities and the environment. The prevailing theory of the turbulence in the ABL---the Monin-Obukhov similarity theory (MOST), while successful in many respects, has some major shortcomings. Its most glaring issue is its inability to predict large-scale wind fluctuations near the ground, which negatively impact many atmospheric applications. Dr. Tong on this proposed project has recently developed a new theory, the multi-point Monin-Obukhov similarity theory (MMO), to overcome shortcomings of MOST. In this project the researchers will further develop the theory and conduct a field campaign to systematically verify it. An improved understanding and prediction of the ABL turbulence provided by MMO can have wide-ranging implications for developing predictive models for weather forecasting, air pollution, atmospheric chemistry, and wind energy. The project will provide opportunities for a postdoctoral researcher and graduate and undergraduate students to participate in all aspects of the project. In addition, in collaboration with scientists and engineers from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) responsible for deploying a suite of research instruments, the research team will host field trips for K-12 students at the field campaign site near Kettleman City, CA, to demonstrate how turbulence and other meteorological variables are measured. The researchers will further develop comprehensive first-principles-based predictions of the similarity properties of the daytime ABL to account for the influences of observed ABL conditions and to understand the underlying physics. A field campaign will be carried out in collaboration with NCAR to make comprehensive measurements of the mean velocity and temperature profiles throughout the depth of the boundary layer and the turbulence spectra in the surface layer. A suite of instruments including a sonic anemometer array, three Doppler lidars, an aerosol lidar, a micro-pulse lidar, a distributed temperature measurement system, a radio acoustic sounding system, a quadcoptor temperature system, and radiosondes will be used in the measurements. For each statistic, multiple instruments will be used, with each instrument covering a different height range or a scale range to achieve the overall height and scale ranges needed. The field data will then be used to systematically verify the scaling prediction and establish the (expansion) coefficients in the theory and the functional forms of the MMO similarity functions for turbulence spectra and mean profiles.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.