Turbulent statistical characteristics associated to the north wind phenomenon in southern Brazil with application to turbulent diffusion

A parameterization for the transport processes in a shear driven planetary boundary layer (PBL) has been established employing turbulent statistical quantities measured during the north wind phenomenon in southern Brazil. Therefore, observed one-dimensional turbulent energy spectra are compared with a spectral model based on the Kolmogorov arguments. The good agreement obtained from this comparison leads to well defined formulations for the turbulent velocity variance, local decorrelation time scale and eddy diffusivity. Furthermore, for vertical regions in which the wind shear forcing is relevant, the eddy diffusivity derived from the north wind data presents a similar profile to those obtained from the non-extensive statistical mechanics theory. Finally, a validation for the present parameterization has been accomplished, using a Lagrangian stochastic dispersion model. The Prairie Grass data set, which presents high mean wind speed, is simulated. The analysis developed in this study shows that the turbulence parameterization constructed from wind data for north wind flow cases is able to describe the diffusion in a high wind speed, shear-dominated PBL.