Tilt corrections over complex terrain and their implication for CO₂ transport

Author: Sun, Jielun

Source: Boundary-Layer Meteorology, Volume 124, Number 2, August 2007 , pp. 143-159(17)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Observational data from sonic anemometers are commonly rotated from sonic to streamline coordinates, a procedure that is called tilt correction. Tilt corrections are often used to post-process air velocity data collected from sonic anemometers to allow objective interpretation of air flow data relative to the Earth. Since streamline coordinates depend on dynamical characteristics of the flow, the tilt correction depends not only on temporal and spatial variations of the flow, but also on local circulations. We found that ensemble- averaged slope flows are approximately parallel to the terrain slope close to the ground within the canopy layer, but not above, due to the influence of the diurnal variation of local vertical circulations. As a result, the diurnal variation of the observed vertical velocity in streamline coordinates at 21.5 m above the ground over 11-m tall forest canopies can be opposite to that calculated from the continuity equation. To estimate CO₂ transport over sloping terrain, a workable reference coordinate system is needed such that multiple sonic anemometers have a common reference relative to the Earth. Streamline coordinate systems can be the choice of the common reference coordinate system only if flow, at least ensemble-averaged flow, is parallel to terrain slopes. The choice of the reference coordinate system and its implication in investigation of CO₂ transport are discussed.

Keywords: Carbon dioxide; Complex terrain; Coordinates; Tilt correction

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10546-007-9186-5

Affiliations: 1: Email: jsun@ucar.edu

Publication date: 2007-08-01