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) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2672-2675 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Physical review letters |
Volume | 78 |
Issue number | 13 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 31 1997 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Physics and Astronomy