Structure functions of turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer over the ocean

Abstract

Structure functions of turbulent velocity fluctuations up to fourth order have been measured at several heights in the atmospheric boundary layer over the open ocean, and the results are compared with theoretical predictions for separations in the inertial subrange. The behaviour of second- and third-order quantities shows substantial agreement with the predictions of Kolmogorov's original theory over a wide range of separations, but the results of a recent modification of the theory, attempting to account for intermittency in the local dissipation rate, are also consistent with the data over somewhat shorter separation intervals. The behaviour of the measured fourth-order structure function disagrees with that predicted from Kolmogorov's original work, but good agreement is found with the results of the modified theory.