Dilatation effects in wind tunnel simulation of non adiabatic atmospheres

Wind tunnel simulation of atmospheric boundary layer is discussed from non-dimensional equation for heat and momentum which display the different similitude parameters to be used. Exact similitude cannot be achieved for Reynolds number that involves serious difficulties when exact similitude for Richardson number is required. Peculiarly, non-negligible dilatation effect upon inertia may appear in wind tunnel heated boundary layers, then the large turbulent structures are not only sensitive to buoyancy in density variations. This study makes possible the distinction between buoyancy and dilatation effect on inertia, and corrections can be made for a well comparison of turbulent scales, with the atmosphere.