CEE 261A: Physics of Wind

Course Description

An introduction to the Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL), including measurements and simulations of ABL flows. Wind and flow, turbulent transport, buoyancy and virtual potential temperature, the diurnal cycle. Derivation of the governing equations, simplifications and assumptions. Turbulence kinetic energy and its budget, ABL stability, the Richardson number and the Obukhov length. Analysis of boundary layer turbulence. Overview of field and wind tunnel measurement techniques, and of computational models from meso- to micro-scale. a Discussion of micro-scale applications, including pedestrian wind comfort, pollutant dispersion and wind loading, and an introduction to uncertainty quantification for ABL flows. Prerequisites: Knowledge of fluid mechanics.