Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 22, 2025

Exploring the Effects of Atmospheric Forcings on Evaporation: Experimental Integration of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer and Shallow Subsurface
Published on: June 8, 2015
Vertical structure of conventionally neutral atmospheric boundary layers
Luoqin Liu1,2, Richard J A M Stevens2
1Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
SignificanceThe presented model describes the vertical structure of conventionally neutral atmospheric boundary layers. Due to the complicated interplay between buoyancy, shear, and Coriolis effects, analytical descriptions have been limited to the mean wind speed. We introduce an analytical approach based on the Ekman equations and the basis function of the universal potential temperature flux profile that allows one to describe the wind and turbulent shear stress profiles and hence capture features like the wind veer profile. The analytical profiles are validated against high-fidelity large-eddy simulations and atmospheric measurements. Our findings contribute to the scientific community's fundamental understanding of atmospheric turbulence with direct relevance for weather forecasting, climate modeling, and wind energy applications.
Related Concept Videos
Boundary Layer Characteristics
Lift
Variation of Atmospheric Pressure
Assuming the air temperature is constant at a given altitude and that the ideal gas law of thermodynamics describes the atmosphere to a good approximation, one can find the variation of atmospheric pressure with height.
Let p(y) be the atmospheric pressure at...
Laminar and Turbulent Flow
Static, Stagnation, Dynamic and Total Pressure
Electrostatic Boundary Conditions
The surface integral of an electric field is given by Gauss's law in integral form and is related to...

