Evidence for nearly complete decoupling of very stable nocturnal boundary layer overland
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Date
2011-01-01
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Springer
Abstract
Concentrations of (222)Rn at 0.1 m and 6.5 m height above ground level and (222)Rn flux density were measured during nights characterized by strong cooling, light winds and clear sky conditions in the Carpathian Basin in Hungary. A very stable boundary layer (vSBL) formed on 14 nights between 15 August and 3 September 2009. On 12 nights, an estimated 72% (s.d. 20%) of (222)Rn emitted from the surface since sunset was retained within the lowest 6.5 m above the ground until sunrise the following morning. On two nights an intermittent increase in wind speed at 9.4 m height was followed by a rise in temperature at 2.0 m height, indicating a larger atmospheric motion that resulted in (222)Rn at 0.1 m around sunrise being the same as around the preceding sunset. It does not seem to be rare in a large continental basin for a vSBL to be nearly completely decoupled from the atmosphere above for the entire period from sunset to sunrise. © 2011, Springer.
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Keywords
Decoupling, Boundary layers, Radon 222, Flux density, Calibration, Atmospheres
Citation
Xia, Y., Conen, F., Haszpra, L., Ferenczi, Z., Zahorowski, W. (2011). Evidence for nearly complete decoupling of very stable nocturnal boundary layer overland. Meteorology, 138, 163-170. doi:10.1007/s10546-010-9548-2