Aerodynamic roughness length: Difference between revisions

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== aerodynamic roughness length ==
== aerodynamic roughness length ==
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<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">(''Also called'' the roughness length, ''z''<sub>0</sub>.) The height above the displacement plane at which the mean wind becomes zero when extrapolating the logarithmic windspeed [[profile]] downward through the [[surface layer]].</div><br/> <div class="paragraph">It is a theoretical height that must be determined from the wind-speed profile, although there  has been some success at relating this height to the arrangement, spacing, and physical height of  individual roughness elements such as trees or houses. The average [[wind speed]] <div class="inline-formula">[[File:ams2001glos-Aex02.gif|link=|ams2001glos-Aex02]]</div> in the surface  layer can be written using [[Monin&ndash;Obukhov similarity theory]] as  <div class="display-formula"><blockquote>[[File:ams2001glos-Ae12.gif|link=|center|ams2001glos-Ae12]]</blockquote></div> where ''z'' is height above ground, ''d'' is height of the displacement plane above ground, ''L'' is the  Monin&ndash;Obukhov length [[scale]], ''k'' is [[von K&#x000e1;rm&#x000e1;n's constant]], &#x003c8; is a [[stability]] correction factor (=  0 for statically neutral conditions), and ''u''<sub>&#x0002a;</sub> is the [[friction velocity]]. To determine aerodynamic  roughness, most experimentalists prefer to make [[wind profile]] measurements during statically  neutral conditions (windy, [[overcast]], negligible [[temperature]] [[advection]]) so that &#x003c8; = 0 in the  equation above. <br/>''Compare'' [[Charnock's relation]].</div><br/> </div>
(''Also called'' the roughness length ''z''<sub>0</sub>.) The height above the displacement plane at which the mean wind becomes zero when extrapolating the logarithmic [[wind speed]] [[profile]] downward through the [[surface layer]].<br/>
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It is a theoretical height that must be determined from the wind speed profile, although there has been some success at relating this height to the arrangement, spacing, and physical height of individual roughness elements such as trees or houses. The average wind speed [[File:ams2001glos-Aex02.gif|link=|ams2001glos-Aex02]] in the surface  layer can be written using [[Monin-obukhov similarity theory|Monin&ndash;Obukhov similarity theory]] as <blockquote>[[File:ams2001glos-Ae12.gif|link=|center|ams2001glos-Ae12]]</blockquote> where ''z'' is height above ground, ''d'' is height of the displacement plane above ground, ''L'' is the  Monin&ndash;Obukhov length [[scale]], ''k'' is [[von K&#x000e1;rm&#x000e1;n's constant]], &#x003c8; is a [[stability]] correction factor (=0 for statically neutral conditions), and ''u''<sub>&#x0002a;</sub> is the [[friction velocity]]. To determine aerodynamic roughness, most experimentalists prefer to make [[wind profile]] measurements during statically neutral conditions (windy, [[overcast]], negligible [[temperature]] [[advection]]) so that &#x003c8; = 0 in the equation above. <br/>''Compare'' [[Charnock's relation]].<br/>
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[[Category:Terms_A]]
<p>''Term edited 25 September 2019.''</p>

Latest revision as of 17:18, 7 November 2023


aerodynamic roughness length

(Also called the roughness length z0.) The height above the displacement plane at which the mean wind becomes zero when extrapolating the logarithmic wind speed profile downward through the surface layer.

It is a theoretical height that must be determined from the wind speed profile, although there has been some success at relating this height to the arrangement, spacing, and physical height of individual roughness elements such as trees or houses. The average wind speed ams2001glos-Aex02 in the surface layer can be written using Monin–Obukhov similarity theory as

ams2001glos-Ae12

where z is height above ground, d is height of the displacement plane above ground, L is the Monin–Obukhov length scale, k is von Kármán's constant, ψ is a stability correction factor (=0 for statically neutral conditions), and u* is the friction velocity. To determine aerodynamic roughness, most experimentalists prefer to make wind profile measurements during statically neutral conditions (windy, overcast, negligible temperature advection) so that ψ = 0 in the equation above.
Compare Charnock's relation.

Term edited 25 September 2019.

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