Turbulence in cities - from microscale ventilation to urban boundary layer structures

The structure and behavior of the urban boundary layer are critical for a wide range of applications ranging from urban air quality to urban heat. There still however exists large uncertainties on how the urban boundary layer responds to surface forcing, how this influences ventilation at various spatial scales, and how these processes should optimally be simulated. Recent advancements in computational fluid dynamics have made it possible to examine the urban boundary layer and its structure in detail. This highlights how large eddy simulation modelling can bring comprehensive insights into the urban boundary layer at both local and city scales, demonstrating also its practical application in urban planning or implementation of urban atmospheric measurements.