Discrepancies between Boundary-layer Observations and the Traditional Thermal Energy Balance

A series of discrepancies between field observations and the traditional thermal energy balance derived from the 1st law of thermodynamics are investigated. Intrigued by some historically known puzzles such as surface energy imbalance, failed potential temperature conservation, and dissimilarity between temperature and humidity, the investigation focuses on physical processes in the atmospheric boundary layer that are uniquely controlled by the diurnal variation of surface heating/cooling. Examination of temperature changes is extended to air-temperature-related variables such as turbulent heat fluxes and temperature variances. Inconsistency between field observations and the traditional thermal energy balance is found not only in their magnitudes but also in their diurnal cycles. Inability of the traditional thermal energy equation for explaining all the observations that are distinctively related to air temperature changes challenges validity of the traditional thermal energy balance theory. 

 

 

The research is supported by NSF AGS-2203248.