Studies of High Reynolds Number Turbulence in the Atmospheric Surface Layer Over The Salt Playa of Western Utah

Abstract

The Surface Layer Turbulence and Environmental Science Test facility resides on the salt playa of Utah's west desert. A major intended use of this facility is to take advantage of the low speeds and large length scales of the atmospheric surface layer over extremely homogeneous terrain for the purpose of probing the detailed structure of high Reynolds number turbulence, and, in particular, boundary layer turbulence. The physical attributes of the site and the dedicated infrastructure and instrumentation at the facility are described. A particularly significant issue relates to the conditions under which the flow is near neutral stratification. Wall shear stress, mean velocity and Monin-Obukh..