LAUSR

AbstractParameterizations of biosphere–atmosphere interaction processes in climate models and other hydrological applications require characterization of turbulent transport of momentum and scalars between vegetation canopies and the atmosphere, which is often modeled using a turbulent analogy to molecular diffusion processes. Simple flux–gradient approaches (K theory) fail for canopy turbulence, however. One cause is turbulent transport by large coherent eddies at the canopy scale, which can be linked to sweep–ejection events and bear signatures of nonlocal organized eddy motions. The K theory, which parameterizes the turbulent flux or stress proportional to the local concentration or velocity gradient, fails to account for these nonlocal organized motions. The connection to sweep–ejection cycles and the local turbulent flux can be traced back to the turbulence triple moment . In this work, large-eddy simulation is used to investigate the diagnostic connection between the failure of K theory and sweep–ej...