Comparing the Air Turbulence above Smooth and Rough Surfaces in the Amazon Region

Abstract

The goal of this work is to compare the main air turbulence characteristics of two common areas in the Amazonian landscape: a dense forest (rough surface) and a water surface (smooth surface). Using wind components data collected at high frequency by sonic anemometers located just above these surfaces, turbulence intensity and power spectra, temporal and length scales of the eddies, as well as the main terms of the TKE budget (TKE = turbulent kinetic energy) were evaluated for each surface type. The results showed that in general, the air turbulence intensity above the forest was higher than above the lake during the daytime, due to the high efficiency of the forest in absorbing the momentum of the turbulent flow. During the nighttime, the situation was reversed, with greater air turbulence intensity above the lake, except in some periods in which intermittent turbulence bursts occured above the forest.

Keywords

• amazon forest
• smooth and rough surfaces
• TKE budget
• turbulence