Publication

In this paper, we use a two-dimensional eddy-resolved model to investigate the instability of a parallel shear flow in a stably stratified boundary layer whose lower domain is occupied by a canopy. The results support our contention that wave motion in the canopy is initiated by shear in an air layer near the treetops. Significant modification by the wave motion of the mean velocity and temperature fields is found even before the wave reaches saturation. The wave fluxes of momentum and heat are not constant with height. Downwind tilting braids are found at the finite amplitude stage of the wave growth and could persist after wave breaking; these downwind tilting structures are believed to be the same as the temperature microfronts reported in the literature. We also present an analysis of the velocity and temperature fields of an observed wave event in the time-height domain and show that the simulation has captured the broad features of the observation.