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On The Temperature-Humidity Correlation And Similarity

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Abstract

The correlation coefficient between temperature and specific humidity (rTq) is considered. A brief literature review as well as experimental data reveals that there is evidence that the eddy diffusivities for heat and water vapour are not equal if |rTq| ≤ 1. Several conditions under which this can occur are discussed. It is concluded that if non-local effects are of the same order as local effects T and q will behave in a non-similar fashion. Moreover, it is shown that if |rTq| = 1, temperature and specific humidity both will obey Monin–Obukhov similarity. In addition, based on that derivation, a new method is presented to determine the Bowen ratio from the T - q correlation. A first test of this new Bowen ratio regression method is presented. It is recommended to use rTq as a diagnostic tool to judge whether T-q similarity holds.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Meteorology and Air Quality Group, Wageningen University, Duivendaal 2, 6701 AP, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    H. A. R. De Bruin & L. J. M. Kroon

  2. Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, De Bilt, The Netherlands

    B. J. J. M. Van Den Hurk

Authors
  1. H. A. R. De Bruin
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  2. B. J. J. M. Van Den Hurk
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  3. L. J. M. Kroon
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De Bruin, H.A.R., Van Den Hurk, B.J.J.M. & Kroon, L.J.M. On The Temperature-Humidity Correlation And Similarity. Boundary-Layer Meteorology 93, 453–468 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1002071607796

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