Low-Level Turbulence Structure in the Vicinity of a Hurricane

Turbulent low-level properties, as determined from aircraft measurements on 17 September 1975, are presented for a peripheral portion of Hurricane Eloise. Application of the Deardorff (1972b) planetary boundary layer parameterization scheme to the mean data indicates that the shear production of turbulence is far greater than that due to buoyancy. it is inferred from an examination of the terms contributing to the energy budget for the upper mixed-layer levels that the vertical shear production of turbulence principally occurs in the surface layer. The surface stress calculated from Deardorff's approach is almost identical to that observed from the momentum flux profile. This profile also shows that the top of the mixed layer is delineated by a vanishing stress, in agreement with previous undisturbed trade wind environment observations.