Variability of clear-air turbulent dissipation rate in troposphere measured by wind profiler

Using the spectral width from the Airda16000 low stratospheric wind profiler radar, removing the non-turbulent contaminations, then obtaining the spectral width contributed by turbulence, the turbulent dissipation rate could be estimated. The height profiler, diurnal and seasonal variability of turbulent dissipation rate in the troposphere were studied. Results show that: First, the turbulent dissipation rate distributed between 10-6 m2 · s-3 and 10-2 m2 · s-3 on clear air days, and decreased with the increase of height. Second, it had remarkable diurnal variability below 3 km, which increased in the midday and decreased in the evening and morning, also, there was a delay of diurnal variability with time, the dissipation rate did not display the tendency of diurnal variability over 3 km. Third, the seasonal variability of dissipation rate was also obvious, the lapse rate with height was only 5.67% in the summer of 2008, while in the winter it was 14.7% and in the autumn it was 12.5%, respectively, but it was 11.5% in the spring of 2009. Fourth, the variability of dissipation rate could reflect the detective height, which could reach 12 km in the summer, while it was only 7 km in the winter, and in the autumn and spring the detective height was 8~10 km.