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The Height of Boundary Layer formula calculates the height of the fluid layer in the immediate vicinity of a bounding surface where the effects of viscosity are significant. It's particularly important in atmospheric science and fluid dynamics for non-equatorial regions.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula relates the boundary layer height to friction velocity and Coriolis frequency through a dimensionless constant, accounting for rotational effects in non-equatorial regions.
Details: Accurate boundary layer height estimation is crucial for weather forecasting, climate modeling, pollution dispersion studies, and understanding atmospheric turbulence and mixing processes.
Tips: Enter dimensionless constant, friction velocity in m/s, and Coriolis frequency. All values must be positive numbers greater than zero.
Q1: What is the typical range for dimensionless constant λ?
A: The dimensionless constant typically ranges from 0.1 to 2.0, with common values around 0.2-0.4 for atmospheric boundary layers.
Q2: How is friction velocity measured or estimated?
A: Friction velocity can be measured directly using eddy covariance systems or estimated from wind profile measurements and surface roughness characteristics.
Q3: Why is this formula specific to non-equatorial regions?
A: The formula incorporates Coriolis frequency, which varies with latitude and becomes negligible near the equator (where f approaches zero).
Q4: What are typical boundary layer heights in different conditions?
A: Boundary layer heights typically range from a few hundred meters to 2-3 kilometers, varying with time of day, season, and weather conditions.
Q5: Are there limitations to this formula?
A: This formula provides an estimate and may not account for all complex factors like stratification, surface heterogeneity, or rapidly changing conditions.