prop/lib/microwaveprop/propagation/inversion.ex
Graham McIntire 864a91fc5c Phase 2 tasks 2.1-2.4: BL turbulence feature computations
Inversion detection module (Propagation.Inversion):
- find_inversion_top/1 walks the native profile to locate the first
  temperature inversion (surface-based or elevated)
- bulk_richardson/3 computes the Richardson number across the
  inversion layer (Ri < 0.25 = turbulent, > 1 = laminar/good)
- shear_magnitude/3 computes the wind shear vector magnitude
- potential_temperature/2 for θ = T*(P0/P)^0.286

Theta-e module (Weather.ThetaE):
- Bolton (1980) equivalent potential temperature
- dewpoint_from_spfh/2 via Magnus-Tetens inversion
- theta_e_jump/3 for the thermodynamic decoupling metric

mix hrrr_native_derive_fields populates inversion_top_m,
bulk_richardson, theta_e_jump_k, and shear_at_top_ms on existing
hrrr_native_profiles rows.

First real data: 2022-08-20 12Z TX profile shows inversion at
186 m, Ri = 0.16 (turbulent), θ_e jump = 0.33 K — consistent with
marginal propagation conditions at that hour.
2026-04-10 08:21:23 -05:00

160 lines
5.6 KiB
Elixir

defmodule Microwaveprop.Propagation.Inversion do
@moduledoc """
Detects temperature inversions in a native HRRR vertical profile.
An inversion exists where temperature increases with height (dT/dz > 0),
violating the normal atmospheric lapse rate. The "inversion top" is the
level where temperature peaks before resuming its normal decrease — this
is the boundary that acts as a mirror for RF propagation when it's
smooth enough (see the meteorologist's April 2026 review).
This module also computes the stability and turbulence properties at
the inversion top that Phase 2 needs for scoring:
- **Bulk Richardson number** — ratio of thermal stratification to
wind shear; Ri < 0.25 → turbulent, Ri > 1 → laminar (good for
propagation).
- **θₑ jump** — change in equivalent potential temperature across
the inversion; sharper jump = stronger decoupling.
- **Wind shear magnitude** at the inversion top.
"""
@g 9.80665
@doc """
Find the first (lowest) temperature inversion in a native profile.
Returns `{:ok, %{height_m, level_idx, strength_k, base_idx}}` where
`strength_k` is the total temperature increase from the inversion base
to its top, or `:none` if no inversion is found.
The profile map must have at least `:heights_m` and `:temp_k` arrays.
"""
def find_inversion_top(%{level_count: n}) when n < 2, do: :none
def find_inversion_top(%{heights_m: heights, temp_k: temps}) do
levels = Enum.zip(heights, temps) |> Enum.with_index()
# Walk upward looking for the first level where T stops increasing.
# "Inversion base" is the level where dT/dz first turns positive.
# "Inversion top" is the level where dT/dz turns negative again.
case find_inversion_region(levels) do
nil -> :none
{base_idx, top_idx} ->
{:ok,
%{
height_m: Enum.at(heights, top_idx),
level_idx: top_idx,
base_idx: base_idx,
strength_k: Enum.at(temps, top_idx) - Enum.at(temps, base_idx)
}}
end
end
def find_inversion_top(_), do: :none
defp find_inversion_region(levels) do
pairs = Enum.chunk_every(levels, 2, 1, :discard)
# Find the first transition from cooling to warming (inversion base),
# then the first transition back to cooling (inversion top).
find_region(pairs, nil)
end
defp find_region([], _base), do: nil
defp find_region([pair | rest], base) do
[{{_h1, t1}, _i1}, {{_h2, t2}, i2}] = pair
if is_nil(base) do
if t2 > t1 do
find_region_top(rest, i2 - 1, i2)
else
find_region(rest, nil)
end
else
if t2 < t1 do
{base, i2 - 1}
else
find_region(rest, base)
end
end
end
# Inside the inversion, looking for dT < 0 (= the top)
defp find_region_top([], base_idx, last_warm_idx), do: {base_idx, last_warm_idx}
defp find_region_top([pair | rest], base_idx, _last_warm_idx) do
[{{_h1, t1}, _i1}, {{_h2, t2}, i2}] = pair
if t2 < t1 do
# Temperature dropping — previous level is the top
{base_idx, i2 - 1}
else
find_region_top(rest, base_idx, i2)
end
end
@doc """
Bulk Richardson number across a layer from `base_idx` to `top_idx`.
Ri = (g / θ_ref) * Δθ * Δz / (ΔU² + ΔV²)
where Δθ is the potential temperature difference, ΔU/ΔV are wind
component differences, and θ_ref is the mean potential temperature.
Returns `nil` if inputs are missing or shear is zero (infinite Ri
is clamped to 100.0 for practical use).
"""
def bulk_richardson(profile, base_idx, top_idx) do
with t_base when is_float(t_base) <- Enum.at(profile.temp_k, base_idx),
t_top when is_float(t_top) <- Enum.at(profile.temp_k, top_idx),
p_base when is_float(p_base) <- Enum.at(profile.pressure_pa, base_idx),
p_top when is_float(p_top) <- Enum.at(profile.pressure_pa, top_idx),
h_base when is_float(h_base) <- Enum.at(profile.heights_m, base_idx),
h_top when is_float(h_top) <- Enum.at(profile.heights_m, top_idx),
u_base when is_float(u_base) <- Enum.at(profile.u_wind_ms, base_idx),
u_top when is_float(u_top) <- Enum.at(profile.u_wind_ms, top_idx),
v_base when is_float(v_base) <- Enum.at(profile.v_wind_ms, base_idx),
v_top when is_float(v_top) <- Enum.at(profile.v_wind_ms, top_idx) do
theta_base = potential_temperature(t_base, p_base)
theta_top = potential_temperature(t_top, p_top)
theta_ref = (theta_base + theta_top) / 2.0
delta_theta = theta_top - theta_base
delta_z = h_top - h_base
delta_u_sq = :math.pow(u_top - u_base, 2) + :math.pow(v_top - v_base, 2)
if delta_u_sq < 1.0e-6 or delta_z < 1.0 do
# No shear or degenerate layer → effectively infinite stability
100.0
else
ri = @g / theta_ref * delta_theta * delta_z / delta_u_sq
min(ri, 100.0)
end
else
_ -> nil
end
end
@doc """
Wind shear magnitude (m/s) across a layer from `base_idx` to `top_idx`.
"""
def shear_magnitude(profile, base_idx, top_idx) do
with u_base when is_float(u_base) <- Enum.at(profile.u_wind_ms, base_idx),
u_top when is_float(u_top) <- Enum.at(profile.u_wind_ms, top_idx),
v_base when is_float(v_base) <- Enum.at(profile.v_wind_ms, base_idx),
v_top when is_float(v_top) <- Enum.at(profile.v_wind_ms, top_idx) do
:math.sqrt(:math.pow(u_top - u_base, 2) + :math.pow(v_top - v_base, 2))
else
_ -> nil
end
end
@doc """
Potential temperature θ = T * (P₀/P)^(R/cp) where P₀ = 100000 Pa.
"""
def potential_temperature(temp_k, pressure_pa) do
temp_k * :math.pow(100_000.0 / pressure_pa, 0.286)
end
end