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Article

The atmospheric boundary layer

JAN 01, 1974
Turbulent processes in the boundary layer are a key factor in air‐pollution meteorology and provide boundary conditions on the dynamics of the atmosphere used in making long‐term weather forecasts.
Hendrik Tennekes

The earth’s atmosphere is always in motion, and as the winds blow over the surface of this globe, they maintain a “layer of frictional influence” or atmospheric boundary layer that extends from the surface to heights typically of the order of one kilometer. The atmosphere receives much of its heat and virtually all of its water vapor through turbulent transfer processes in the boundary layer. Furthermore, most atmospheric pollutants are released in the boundary layer, and the quality of our daily environment (we all live inside the boundary layer!) depends strongly on the mixing capabilities of whatever turbulence happens to be around us.

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References

  1. 1. H. Tennekes, J. L. Lumley, A First Course in Turbulence, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass. (1972).

  2. 2. C. H. Gibson, G. R. Stegen, R. B. Williams, J. Fluid Mech. 41, 153 (1970).https://doi.org/JFLSA7

  3. 3. J. Z. Holland, J. Phys. Oceanography 2, 476 (1972).https://doi.org/JPYOBT

  4. 4. A. A. Townsend, The Structure of Turbulent Shear Flow, Cambridge U.P. (1956).

  5. 5. J. W. Deardorff, Monthly Weather Review 100, 93 (1972).https://doi.org/MWREAB

  6. 6. H. Tennekes, J. Atmos. Sci. 30, 558 (1973).https://doi.org/JAHSAK

  7. 7. A. S. Monin, Weather Forecasting as a Problem in Physics, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass. (1972).

  8. 8. J. W. Deardorff, J. Atmos. Sci. 29, 91 (1972).https://doi.org/JAHSAK

  9. 9. J. G. Charney, J. Atmos. Sci. 28, 1087 (1971).https://doi.org/JAHSAK

More about the authors

Hendrik Tennekes, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.

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This Content Appeared In
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Volume 27, Number 1

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