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Vegetated Canopy Heterogeneity Footprints in the Roughness Sublayer.

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Title: Vegetated Canopy Heterogeneity Footprints in the Roughness Sublayer.
Authors: Salmaso, Giulia1 (AUTHOR) giulia.r.salmaso@gmail.com, Cal, Raúl B.2 (AUTHOR), Calaf, Marc1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres. May2026, Vol. 131 Issue 10, p1-25. 25p.
Subject Terms: *Plant canopies, Turbulent flow, Vegetation patterns, Large eddy simulation models, Surface roughness, Atmospheric boundary layer, Multiscale modeling
Abstract: Turbulent flows over horizontally homogeneous rough surfaces are categorized as rough‐wall boundary layer flows, while flows over homogeneous vegetated canopies are better described through a mixing‐layer analogy. At present, numerous studies have investigated canopy density as a transition mechanism between rough‐wall and mixing‐layer‐type flows. Yet, most considered canopies have been spatially homogeneous, with few exceptions investigating agricultural arrangements. However, most vegetated canopies are not homogeneously distributed, but instead contain gaps and spatial heterogeneities of different scales. In these cases, it remains unclear which are the dominant flow traits, and how spatial heterogeneity affects them. To help overcome these knowledge gaps, this paper aims to characterize flows over vegetated canopies with scales of spatial heterogeneity ∼O102 ${\sim} \mathcal{O}\left(1{0}^{2}\right)$ m randomly distributed, with a uniform under‐canopy roughness and neutral stratification. Large Eddy Simulations of the atmospheric boundary layer with a geostrophic forcing are used. Canopy morphology and heterogeneity are quantified using the non‐dimensional lacunarity metric. Lacunarity is further leveraged to investigate non‐dimensional relations between canopy morphology and traditional turbulence statistics. Furthermore, canopy heterogeneity is investigated as a mechanism to transition from a mixing‐layer‐type flow to a rough‐wall boundary layer flow. Results suggest revised formulations for the Ls(λ) ${L}_{s}(\lambda)$ and ΛLs ${\Lambda }\left({L}_{s}\right)$ scaling relations to account for the effects of canopy heterogeneity. Results also reveal a novel scaling between the equivalent surface roughness z0 ${z}_{0}$ and the canopy heterogeneity parameter Hc ${\mathcal{H}}_{c}$, providing a starting point to better understand the role of canopy heterogeneity in atmospheric boundary layer flows. Plain Language Summary: Flows over rough surfaces are called rough‐wall boundary layer flows. Meanwhile, flows over vegetated canopies are described with a mixing‐layer analogy because the faster wind flow above the canopy is mixed with the slower flow caused by the presence of plants. Many studies have examined how vegetation density can change the flow, but most of them assume the vegetation as homogeneous. However, real vegetated canopies are uneven and show gaps. What is not clear yet is how the wind flow reacts to these heterogeneous vegetated surfaces: is the flow of a rough‐wall type, of a mixing‐layer type, or of an intermediate type? How does heterogeneity affect the type of flow? This paper aims to understand how these unevenly distributed vegetated areas, with gaps that range from 400 to 1,200 m, alter the flow. Numerical simulations are used to model the wind flow over different types of irregular vegetation cover. To measure the vegetation's heterogeneity, the authors use a non‐dimensional index called lacunarity. Lacunarity is also used to study relations between surface irregularities and traditional turbulence statistics. Results provide a starting point for better understanding the role of vegetation's heterogeneity on atmospheric boundary layer flows. Key Points: The link between heterogeneous vegetated canopies and atmospheric flow is investigated using Large Eddy SimulationsTurbulence statistics, and canopy flow length scales are derived for flows over heterogeneous canopiesRevised scaling relations for traditional turbulence statistics as function of canopy heterogeneity are derived [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Label: Title
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  Data: Vegetated Canopy Heterogeneity Footprints in the Roughness Sublayer.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Salmaso%2C+Giulia%22">Salmaso, Giulia</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> giulia.r.salmaso@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cal%2C+Raúl+B%2E%22">Cal, Raúl B.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Calaf%2C+Marc%22">Calaf, Marc</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Geophysical+Research%2E+Atmospheres%22">Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 131 Issue 10, p1-25. 25p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plant+canopies%22">Plant canopies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Turbulent+flow%22">Turbulent flow</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vegetation+patterns%22">Vegetation patterns</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Large+eddy+simulation+models%22">Large eddy simulation models</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Surface+roughness%22">Surface roughness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Atmospheric+boundary+layer%22">Atmospheric boundary layer</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Multiscale+modeling%22">Multiscale modeling</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Turbulent flows over horizontally homogeneous rough surfaces are categorized as rough‐wall boundary layer flows, while flows over homogeneous vegetated canopies are better described through a mixing‐layer analogy. At present, numerous studies have investigated canopy density as a transition mechanism between rough‐wall and mixing‐layer‐type flows. Yet, most considered canopies have been spatially homogeneous, with few exceptions investigating agricultural arrangements. However, most vegetated canopies are not homogeneously distributed, but instead contain gaps and spatial heterogeneities of different scales. In these cases, it remains unclear which are the dominant flow traits, and how spatial heterogeneity affects them. To help overcome these knowledge gaps, this paper aims to characterize flows over vegetated canopies with scales of spatial heterogeneity ∼O102 ${\sim} \mathcal{O}\left(1{0}^{2}\right)$ m randomly distributed, with a uniform under‐canopy roughness and neutral stratification. Large Eddy Simulations of the atmospheric boundary layer with a geostrophic forcing are used. Canopy morphology and heterogeneity are quantified using the non‐dimensional lacunarity metric. Lacunarity is further leveraged to investigate non‐dimensional relations between canopy morphology and traditional turbulence statistics. Furthermore, canopy heterogeneity is investigated as a mechanism to transition from a mixing‐layer‐type flow to a rough‐wall boundary layer flow. Results suggest revised formulations for the Ls(λ) ${L}_{s}(\lambda)$ and ΛLs ${\Lambda }\left({L}_{s}\right)$ scaling relations to account for the effects of canopy heterogeneity. Results also reveal a novel scaling between the equivalent surface roughness z0 ${z}_{0}$ and the canopy heterogeneity parameter Hc ${\mathcal{H}}_{c}$, providing a starting point to better understand the role of canopy heterogeneity in atmospheric boundary layer flows. Plain Language Summary: Flows over rough surfaces are called rough‐wall boundary layer flows. Meanwhile, flows over vegetated canopies are described with a mixing‐layer analogy because the faster wind flow above the canopy is mixed with the slower flow caused by the presence of plants. Many studies have examined how vegetation density can change the flow, but most of them assume the vegetation as homogeneous. However, real vegetated canopies are uneven and show gaps. What is not clear yet is how the wind flow reacts to these heterogeneous vegetated surfaces: is the flow of a rough‐wall type, of a mixing‐layer type, or of an intermediate type? How does heterogeneity affect the type of flow? This paper aims to understand how these unevenly distributed vegetated areas, with gaps that range from 400 to 1,200 m, alter the flow. Numerical simulations are used to model the wind flow over different types of irregular vegetation cover. To measure the vegetation's heterogeneity, the authors use a non‐dimensional index called lacunarity. Lacunarity is also used to study relations between surface irregularities and traditional turbulence statistics. Results provide a starting point for better understanding the role of vegetation's heterogeneity on atmospheric boundary layer flows. Key Points: The link between heterogeneous vegetated canopies and atmospheric flow is investigated using Large Eddy SimulationsTurbulence statistics, and canopy flow length scales are derived for flows over heterogeneous canopiesRevised scaling relations for traditional turbulence statistics as function of canopy heterogeneity are derived [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1029/2025JD043959
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 25
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Plant canopies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Turbulent flow
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Vegetation patterns
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Large eddy simulation models
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Surface roughness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Atmospheric boundary layer
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Multiscale modeling
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Vegetated Canopy Heterogeneity Footprints in the Roughness Sublayer.
        Type: main
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            NameFull: Salmaso, Giulia
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            NameFull: Cal, Raúl B.
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            NameFull: Calaf, Marc
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            – D: 28
              M: 05
              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 131
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              Value: 10
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            – TitleFull: Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres
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