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An investigation of high-wavenumber temperature and velocity spectra in air

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 March 2006

Noel E. J. Boston  and
R. W. Burling
Noel E. J. Boston
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada Present address: Department of Oceanography, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California 93940.
R. W. Burling
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Abstract

Turbulent temperature and velocity fluctuations in air were measured at a height of 4 m over a tidal mud flat. Particular attention was focused on the high-wavenumber, small-scale region of the spectra of these fluctuations. The measurements of the velocity fluctuations were made with a constant-temperature hot-wire anemometer; the hot wire consisted of a platinum wire 5 μm in diameter and approximately 1 mm in length. Temperature fluctuations were measured with a platinum resistance thermometer which consisted of a platinum wire 0·25 μm in diameter and about 0·30 mm in length.

The velocity spectra results agree well with the classical results of Grant, Stewart & Moilliet (1962) and Pond, Stewart & Burling (1963). In addition, they extend the velocity spectrum in air to slightly higher wavenumbers. The one-dimensional Kolmogorov constant K’ estimated from these data was 0·51.

The temperature spectra clearly show the shape of the one-dimensional temperature spectrum in air beyond the $-\frac{5}{3}$ region. In air temperature and velocity spectra are very similar. The value of the scalar constant K’0, which appears in the scalar $-\frac{5}{3}$ law, computed from these data was 0·81. Direct measurement was made of all parameters that enter into the calculation of it.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 55 , Issue 3 , 10 October 1972 , pp. 473 - 492
Copyright
© 1972 Cambridge University Press

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