Date of Award

Spring 2022

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Mechanical Engineering

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Christopher White

Second Advisor

Christopher White

Third Advisor

Ivaylo Nedyalkov

Abstract

This thesis investigates turbulence in the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL), above,the wave boundary layer (WBL). To conduct this research, wind velocity and temperature data was collected by a sonic anemometer located onWood, Island, NH, mounted to a tower 4 meters above the ground. To study turbulence in the MABL, variables such as Reynolds stress and friction velocity were calculated for different days in August 2019. Friction velocity was calculated following three different approaches: the first approach employs the eddy covariance method, the second employs a tilt correction to the eddy covariance method, and the third uses the Reynolds stress tensor invariants to calculate friction velocity, which eliminates the need for tilt correction. The three methods showed similar results for most of the days investigated. Lastly, the Monin-Obukhov Similarity Theory (MOST) was studied with the purpose of investigating how the Reynolds stress tensor invariants method for calculating friction velocity responds to scaling laws such as MOST. This analysis showed that friction velocity values are greater for the Reynolds stress tensor invariants method than for the eddy covariance method with tilt correction. Overall, the Reynolds stress tensor invariants method does not reproduce well the friction velocity values obtained from the eddy covariance method with tilt correction for any of the stability conditions of the MABL.

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