M3MC Meeting MinutesAnalysis and understanding of atmospheric boundary layers, including surface interactions
Numerical simulation of turbulence using large parallel supercomputers is an important research tool for studying planetary boundary layer (PBL) dynamics as well as transport of heat and scalars in a variety of regimes. PBL scientists within MMM use turbulence simulations to test theoretical ideas, as an aide to interpret observational databases, and as a data surrogate for building turbulence mixing parameterizations for larger-scale models of flows such as marine stratocumulus, vegetative canopies, and turbulent flow over small-scale topography. In FY05, PBL scientists built and exercised a new large-eddy simulation code to simulate turbulent flow in the PBL in the presence of modestly complex surface topography. This code was used to examine air-sea interaction processes as well as flow over isolated hills with and without a tree canopy. The air-sea interaction simulations illustrate how surface waves (sea state) modulate the magnitude and orientation of the mean surface winds and momentum flux.
