Spectral gap

From Glossary of Meteorology



spectral gap

A wavenumber, wavelength, or frequency band within a Fourier energy spectrum that has a relative minimum of spectral energy.

Much of the theoretical development of turbulence in the atmosphere is based on the assumption of a spectral gap between larger-wavelength motions (called mean motions) and small- scale motions (called turbulence). However, a growing body of experimental evidence indicates that there is often not a spectral gap in the atmospheric boundary layer, thereby raising questions about the Reynolds averaging approach that has formed the basis for turbulence theory for the past century.


Copyright 2024 American Meteorological Society (AMS). For permission to reuse any portion of this work, please contact permissions@ametsoc.org. Any use of material in this work that is determined to be “fair use” under Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act (17 U.S. Code § 107) or that satisfies the conditions specified in Section 108 of the U.S.Copyright Act (17 USC § 108) does not require AMS’s permission. Republication, systematic reproduction, posting in electronic form, such as on a website or in a searchable database, or other uses of this material, except as exempted by the above statement, require written permission or a license from AMS. Additional details are provided in the AMS Copyright Policy statement.