1. General Model Information
Name: Boundary LAYER model
Acronym: BLAYER
Main medium: air
Main subject: biogeochemistry, agriculture
Organization level: landscape
Type of model: partial differential equations (finite differences,3D)
Main application:
Keywords: Atmospheric boundary layer, hydrostatic, anelastic, incompressible,3-dimensional, wind forecasts, insect pest migrations, GIS
Contact:
Dr. Richard Turner
Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences
Room 3010 Agronomy Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
Telephone: 515-294-5587
Fax: 515-294-3163
email: rwturner@iastate.edu
Author(s):
Paegle and McLawhorn, University of Utah. Astling, University of Utah. MikeMcCorcle, J. Fast, R. Turner, Iowa State have modified the model.
Abstract:
The BLAYER model simulates atmospheric flows within the lowest few kilometers
of the earth's atmosphere. The model is used to describe diurnal variations in
temperature and wind fields and has been adapted to forecast the timing and
location of insect pest migrations into the United States cornbelt. The model
uses a 5-10 minute time step and is generally run for 1-3 day time intervals.
The model uses soil texture and moisture information, fields of atmospheric
variables and DEM data as input. It has been used to examine cutworm
dispersion in the cornbelt. The model provides output in ASCII format and data
for a grid. Output includes: temperature, wind vectors, pressure, soil
moisture, soil temperature, turbulent energy and insect concentrations at any
time interval.
Author of the abstract:
CIESIN (CONSORTIUM FOR
INTERNATIONAL EARTH SCIENCE INFORMATION NETWORK):
Validation Procedures: Comparison of modeled wind, humidity fields with observed data.
Correlations of forecast rising motion associated with convergence at nose of jet with convective
development. STORMFEST-stormscale operational and research field experiment. Comparison
of Black Cutworm trap data with forecast concentration fields.
II. Technical Information
II.1 Executables:
Operating System(s): DEC workstation environment
II.2 Source-code:
Programming Language(s): FORTRAN 77
II.3 Manuals:
II.4 Data:
III. Mathematical Information
III.1 Mathematics
III.2 Quantities
III.2.1 Input
III.2.2 Output
IV. References
Paegle and McLawhorn, 1983: "Correlation of nocturnal thunderstormsand boundary-layer convergence". Monthly Weather Review. 101: 877-933. McCorcle, 1988:Simulation of surface moisture effects on on the Great Plains low-level jet". Monthly WeatherReview. 116: 1705-1720.
V. Further information in the World-Wide-Web
VI. Additional remarks
This model could be useful for the study of short-term atmosphericdynamics and possible changes that may occur in this area of the atmosphere asa result of climate change. It may be of particular importance to the study ofpest migration and the potential changes in dispersal patterns of crop damagingpests brought on by changes in climatic conditions. Because the output is ina spatial format (e.g. grid pattern), the output of the model may be broughtinto a GIS for further spatial analyses.
Last review of this document by: T. Gabele: 16. 6. 1997 -
Status of the document:
last modified by
Tobias Gabele Wed Aug 21 21:44:39 CEST 2002