Identifying Coherent Structures in the Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer

Analysis of the various roles of individual phenomena in Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer (MABL) processes depends on the ability to detect these phenomena and to isolate their contribution to the evolving three-dimensional thermodynamic and kinematic fields. Because many MABL phenomena take the form of coherent structures in the turbulence field, much of this task becomes one of identifying and distinguishing the different coherent structure types that occur in the MABL. This task can be straightforward if none of the coherent structures overlap significantly in space, time, or scale; if each is well enough understood a priori , then tailored detection algorithms can be easily developed. In contrast, the task of identifying and separating coherent structures in the turbulence field becomes quite complicated if the structures overlap in space, time, or scale. Likewise, tailored detection algorithms cannot be developed for poorly understood or heretofore unknown structures. To reduce these problems, we develop a multi-pronged statistical approach that makes synergistic use of Principal COmponents Analysis, Fourier Spectral Analysis, and Fractal Dimension Analysis. Once identified by this approach, the contribution of each coherent structure type to MABL processes may be evaluated separately. In particular, the roles of each in the transport and in the generation of intermittency of air/sea fluxes may be identified and quantified.

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