Abstract
We present the cumulative frequency-area distribution of tropical cumulus clouds as observed from satellite and space shuttle images from scales of 0.1 to 1000 km. The distribution is a power-law function of area with exponent −0.8. We show that this result and the fractal dimension of cloud perimeters implies that the top of the convective boundary layer (CBL) is a self-affine interface with roughness exponent or Hausdorff measure H ≈, the same value as that of the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation in 2 + 1 dimensions. In addition, we identify dynamic scaling in a time series of the local altitude of the top of the CBL as measured with FM/CW radar backscatter intensity. A possible growth model is discussed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2672-2675 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Physical review letters |
| Volume | 78 |
| Issue number | 13 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 31 1997 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Physics and Astronomy