A simple model of the convective internal boundary layer and its application to surface heat flux estimates within polynyas

Renfrew, Ian A.; King, John. C ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3315-7568. 2000 A simple model of the convective internal boundary layer and its application to surface heat flux estimates within polynyas. Boundary-Layer Meteorology, 94 (3). 335-356. 10.1023/A:1002492412097

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Abstract/Summary

A simple model of the convective (thermal) internal boundary layer has been developed for climatological studies of air-sea-ice interaction, where in situ observations are scarce and first-order estimates of surface heat fluxes are required. It is a mixed-layer slab model, based on a steady-state solution of the conservation of potential temperature equation, assuming a balance between advection and turbulent heat-flux convergence. Both the potential temperature and the surface heat flux are allowed to vary with fetch, so the subsequent boundary-layer modification alters the fluxconvergence and thus the boundary-layer growth rate. For simplicity, microphysical and radiative processes are neglected. The model is validated using several case studies. For a clear-sky cold-air outbreak over a coastal polynya the observed boundary-layer heights, mixed-layer potential temperatures and surface heat fluxes are all well reproduced. In other cases, where clouds are present, the model still captures most of the observed boundary-layer modification, although there are increasing discrepancies with fetch, due to the neglected microphysical and radiative processes. The application of the model to climatological studies of air-sea interaction within coastal polynyas is discussed.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1023/A:1002492412097
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme
ISSN:	00068314
Additional Keywords:	cold air outbreak, surface heat fluxes, polynyas, ronne ice shelf, thermal internal boundary layer, air sea ice interaction
NORA Subject Terms:	Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	03 Jul 2013 10:42 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/502330

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