Turbulent flow profiles used to estimate the height of the night boundary layer in the Central Amazon

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5902/2179460X87724

Keywords:

Amazon rainforest, ATTO Tower, Turbulent fluxes

Abstract

The Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) is the portion of the lower troposphere that interacts with and is influenced by the Earth’s surface. It is a key parameter for micrometeorology, atmospheric chemistry, and other fields of study. However, estimating the height of the nocturnal boundary layer (NBL) is not trivial, and the techniques used so far have never estimated the top of the NBL with turbulent flux profiles (the most appropiate technique for this purpose). This work proposes an innovative methodology for calculating the height of the NBL, using data from 13 three-dimensional sonic anemometers installed on the towers of the ATTO experimental site, located in the central Amazon. Two days were used, one characteristic of the rainy season and the other of the dry season. The results showed that the flux convergence methodology is promising for determining the NBL height. It was observed that, during the dry season, the heights were lower (average of 86.60 m) compared to the rainy season (average of 160.42 m). The higher heights during the rainy season can be attributed to the greater presence of clouds during this period, resulting in a higher amount of longwave radiation emitted by these clouds. This influences the increase in turbulence due to the available radiative balance and, consequently, resulting in higher NBL heights. These results will be further explored with the use of a larger dataset.

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Author Biographies

Carla Maria Alves de Souza, National Institute of Amazonian Research

Graduated in Physics from the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Pará (IFPA) and master's student in the Graduate Program in Climate and Environment (PPG-CLIAMB)

Anne Cristiny Santos de Mendonça, National Institute of Amazonian Research

Graduated in Mathematics from UEA, Control and Automation Engineer from UNIP and Master in Climate and Environment INPA-UEA

Flávio Augusto Farias D’Oliveira, Instituto Federal de Educação

Graduated in Meteorology from UFPA with a Masters in Meteorology from USP and a PhD in Environmental Sciences from UFPA

Gilberto Fisch, Universidade de Taubaté

Meteorologist from USP, Master's and Doctorate from INPE. Retired Full Researcher at the Aeronautics and Space Institute (IAE/DCTA) and Full Professor at UNITAU.

Carlos Alberto Quesada, National Institute of Amazonian Research

PhD in Ecology and Global Change from the University of Leeds. He is currently Full Researcher at INPA

Rayonil Gomes Carneiro, National Institute for Space Research

Meteorologist graduated from UFAL with a Master's Degree in Meteorology from UFCG and a PhD from INPE

Bruno Takeshi Tanaka Portela, National Institute of Amazonian Research

Undergraduate degree in Meteorology from UFPA and postgraduate degree in Climate and Environment from INPA and UEA

Jailson Ramos da Mata, National Institute of Amazonian Research

Graduated in Industrial Electronics Technology from IFAM. Technological Initiation scholarship at INPA (2022 - 2023)

Leonardo de Oliveira Ramos, National Institute of Amazonian Research

Electronics technologist graduated from UEA. Master's student in the Postgraduate Program in Electrical Engineering at UFAM and head of INPA's Electronic Instrumentation Laboratory

Thiago de Lima Xavier, National Institute of Amazonian Research

Degree in Environmental Engineering from ULBRA and scholarship holder at INPA

Cléo Quaresma Dias Júnior, Instituto Federal de Educação

Master in Environmental Sciences from UFPA and PhD in Climate and Environment from INPA. Professor of the Postgraduate Programs in Climate and Environment at INPA and Environmental Sciences at UFPA

   

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Published

2024-12-16

How to Cite

Souza, C. M. A. de, Mendonça, A. C. S. de, D’Oliveira, F. A. F., Fisch, G., Quesada, C. A., Carneiro, R. G., Portela, B. T. T., Mata, J. R. da, Ramos, L. de O., Xavier, T. de L., & Dias Júnior, C. Q. (2024). Turbulent flow profiles used to estimate the height of the night boundary layer in the Central Amazon. Ciência E Natura, 46(esp. 2), e87724. https://doi.org/10.5902/2179460X87724

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