A Numerical Study of Atmospheric and Soil Boundary Layers

TLDR: In this article, a numerical model of the atmosphere-soil boundary layer was developed which simulates heat and moisture exchange between the atmosphere and the soil, i.e., energy and water mass conservation and the local thermodynamic equilibrium of temperature and humidity.

Abstract: A numerical model of the atmosphere-soil boundary layer was developed which simulates heat and moisture exchange between the atmosphere and the soil. The atmospheric and soil equations are solved using the physical conditions at the atmosphere-soil interface, i.e., energy and water mass conservation and the local thermodynamic equilibrium of temperature and humidity. Quasi-stationary layers were assumed in both the atmosphere and the soil near the interface. The depth of these layers was determined by the scale analysis of various transport processes in the atmosphere and in the soil. Two calculations, which were based on different assumptions for the eddy diffusivity in the Ekman layer, were compared. The temperature calculated by use of an eddy diffusivity interpolated by Hermite polynomials is in good agreement with observations. Both examples studied predicted the wind velocity weaker than the observed, especially during the night. The numerical model thus developed was applied to the study o...