Buoyancy Effects on the Scaling Characteristics of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Wind Fields in the Mesoscale Range

TL;DR

This study investigates how buoyancy influences the scaling properties of atmospheric boundary layer wind fields in the mesoscale range, revealing height-dependent scaling exponents and quasi-universal behavior under extended self-similarity.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the impact of buoyancy on wind field scaling characteristics across different heights in the mesoscale range.

Findings

Scaling exponents depend systematically on height.

Buoyancy effects likely cause anomalous scaling behavior.

Relative scaling exponents show quasi-universal behavior.

Abstract

We have analyzed long-term wind speed time-series from five field sites up to a height of 300 m from the ground. Structure function-based scaling analysis has revealed that the scaling exponents in the mesoscale regime systematically depend on height. This anomalous behavior is likely caused by the buoyancy effects. In the framework of the extended self-similarity, the relative scaling exponents portray quasi-universal behavior.