Turbulent Kinetic Energy and Turbulence Dispersion Characteristics Over a Mixed Crop Area in Benin

In this study, we analyze turbulent kinetic energy and turbulent dispersion characteristics of four 15-day periods selected in the year 2008. Data were acquired using the eddy covariance method above a mixed crop area located in the northern Benin. The Monin Obukhov Similarity (MOS) theory was used to examine the relationship between the turbulent dispersion characteristics and stability parameters for the four periods investigated. It has been found that the turbulent kinetic energy, friction velocity and turbulent dispersion characteristics showed distinctive variations during the selected periods. During unstable atmospheric conditions, the normalized ratios of lateral, horizontal and vertical wind speeds are larger with respect to those obtained in stable stratification of the atmosphere. The results demonstrate also that the normalized standard deviations of wind speed components follow MOS theory under unstable atmospheric conditions.