Scientists derived new equation for the classical theory of atmospheric turbulence

The theory of A.S. Monin and A.M. Obukhov from 1954 is the most commonly used theory for describing the lowest layer of the atmosphere and plays an important role in our ability to model both weather and climate.

Numerical weather prediction and climate models have applied the Monin-Obukhov theory over several decades as the cornerstone for presentation of exchange of heat, moisture and momentum between the Earth surface and the atmosphere. It has been known that the theory is not exactly valid in all conditions but efforts to improve or replace it have so far progressed slowly.

Scientists discovered new results related to the theory by returning to the basics of analysis by pen and paper. The new equation was derived which rephrases the classical theory of Monin and Obukhov. It was derived by reconsidering the original derivation and increasing the scope. Although this new phrasing does not describe the atmosphere in greater detail than the original, its form allows for intuitive results which are opaque in the original.

"This discovery improves our understanding of the lower atmosphere and provides a clearer and concise presentation, enabling future advances on the topic", says Gabin Urbancic, scientist at the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

The research was carried out during 2022–2023. The work was done in collaboration with the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the University of Innsbruck, Austria, and the Wageningen University, The Netherlands.

Further information:

Scientist Gabin Urbancic, Finnish Meteorological Institute, gabin.urbancic@fmi.fi

Scientific article is available in Boundary-Layer Meteorology journal.

Reference: Urbancic, G.H., Stiperski, I., Holtslag, A.A.M., Mosso, S. and Vihma, T. (2024). A Novel Similarity Approach for Describing the Bulk Shear in the Atmospheric Surface Layer. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 190, 10, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-023-00854-6.