RANS modeling of intermittent turbulence in a thermally stable stratified boundary layer

The flow structure and statistical features of a turbulent stable stratified boundary layer are studied by using the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) scheme of turbulence, which takes into account the influence of internal gravity waves. The possibility of the RANS description of intermittent turbulence both near the surface and above the surface in the vicinity of the low-level jet flow formed above the boundary layer is analyzed. The role of turbulent diffusion (third-order statistical moments) in intermittent turbulence generation is discussed. Numerical results are demonstrated to agree with results of LES modeling and actual observations. Intermittency of turbulent kinetic energy both near the surface and above this surface in the vicinity of the low-level jet flow is revealed.