Research on Near-Surface Atmospheric Turbulence Characteristics Based on Temperature Pulsation Meter in the Nanjing Area

Atmospheric turbulence is a macroscopic fluid motion caused by random atmospheric movement. The atmospheric refractive index structure constant (Cn2) is an important parameter for characterizing the intensity of atmospheric optical turbulence. Quantitative analysis of the impact of near-surface atmospheric optical turbulence on photovoltaic system performance in typical complex environmental regions holds significant theoretical and practical value. We used a meteorological tower equipped with temperature pulsation meters to conduct long-term monitoring of near-surface atmospheric turbulence in Lishui District, Nanjing City, and analyzed the diurnal variability, vertical distribution characteristics, and impact of various underlying surface types on turbulence intensity. Our results show that the Cn2 values near the surface typically range from 10−17 to 10−13m−2/3, exhibiting significant diurnal variations with peak values around noon. The vertical structure demonstrates a pronounced diurnal switching mechanism: during daytime convection, turbulence intensity decreases markedly with height, following a strong power-law profile with an exponent of approximately −0.505 (R2≈0.99); in contrast, the vertical coupling weakens during the stable nighttime. Moreover, surface characteristics significantly influence turbulence variation patterns. Our study provides observational data support for understanding physical processes in the near-surface boundary layer under complex environmental conditions.