loading page

A theoretical model for buoyancy flux determination in planetary boundary layer based on endoreversible heat engine
  • +7
  • Jiandong Wang,
  • Jiaping Wang,
  • Yubin Li,
  • Chao Liu,
  • LE CAO,
  • Chenggang Wang,
  • Chunsong Lu,
  • Aijun Ding,
  • Shuxiao Wang,
  • Jiming Hao
Jiandong Wang
Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Jiaping Wang
Nanjing University
Author Profile
Yubin Li
Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology
Author Profile
Chao Liu
Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology
Author Profile
LE CAO
Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology
Author Profile
Chenggang Wang
Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology
Author Profile
Chunsong Lu
Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology
Author Profile
Aijun Ding
Nanjing University
Author Profile
Shuxiao Wang
Tsinghua University
Author Profile
Jiming Hao
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University
Author Profile

Abstract

The determination of buoyancy flux and its contribution to turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) is a fundamental problem in planetary boundary layer (PBL). However, due to the complexity of turbulence, previous studies mainly adopted dimensional analysis and empirical formula to determine TKE budget. This study introduces the endoreversible heat engine model concept to the convective boundary layer (CBL) TKE analysis and establishes a theoretical model based on the first principles. We found that the total contribution of buoyancy to TKE and heat engine efficiency in the boundary layer increase linearly with the boundary layer height. The derived buoyancy flux from our theoretical model is consistent with the results from numerical simulation and dimensional analysis. This heat engine-based theory reveals the physical mechanism of the power of TKE generated by buoyancy. Our theoretical model can replace the empirical value and provide an ideal method for buoyancy flux determination in PBL.