Climatology

Chapter 13

What do positive/negative values for the Obdukhov length indicate?
 

positive: stable atmosphere
negative: unstable atmosphere 
 
When sensible heat flux and evapotranspiration are positive (heat and water vapor are exchanged into the atmosphere) temperature and water vapor decrease with height. (normally during the day)

At night, sensible heat flux is negative towards the surface, temperature increases with height (to a certain extent)

Vertical gradient is weaker in an unstable surface layer where there is a lot of mixing

Diskussion