Evolution of the Thorpe and Ozmidov scales at the lower atmospheric and planetary boundary layer

Abstract

Turbulence affects the dynamics of atmospheric processes by enhancing the transport of mass, heat, humidity and pollutants. The global objective of our work is to analyze some turbulent descriptors which reflect the mixing processes in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). In this paper we present results related to the Thorpe displacements dT, the maximum Thorpe displacement (dT)max, the Thorpe scale LT and the Ozmidov scale, LO, and their time evolution in the ABL during a day cycle. A tethered balloon was used to obtain vertical profiles of the atmospheric physical magnitudes up to 1000 m. We discuss their vertical and time variability, and also their relationships.