PBLHT

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pblht > Planetary Boundary Layer from AERI and MPLData Source Type(s) > PI

The distribution and transport of aerosol emitted to the lower troposphere is governed by the height of the planetary boundary layer (PBL), which limits the dilution of pollutants and influences boundary-layer convection. Because radiative heating and cooling of the surface strongly affect the PBL top height, it follows diurnal and seasonal cycles and may vary by hundreds of meters over a 24-hour period.

The cap the PBL imposes on low-level aerosol transport makes aerosol concentration an effective proxy for PBL height: the top of the PBL is marked by a rapid transition from polluted, well-mixed boundary-layer air to the cleaner, more stratified free troposphere. Micropulse lidar (MPL) can provide much higher temporal resolution than radiosonde and better vertical resolution than infrared spectrometer (AERI), but PBL heights from all three instruments at the ARM SGP site are compared to one another for validation. If there is agreement among them, the higher-resolution remote sensing-derived PBL heights can accurately fill in the gaps left by the low frequency of radiosonde launches, and thus improve model parameterizations and our understanding of boundary-layer processes.

Purpose

Micropulse lidar (MPL) can provide much higher temporal resolution than radiosonde and better vertical resolution than infrared spectrometer (AERI), but PBL heights from all three instruments at the ARM SGP site are compared to one another for validation. If there is agreement among them, the higher-resolution remote sensing-derived PBL heights can accurately fill in the gaps left by the low frequency of radiosonde launches, and thus improve model parameterizations and our understanding of boundary-layer processes.

Primary Measurements

Planetary boundary layer height

Locations

Fixed
Mobile

Data Details

Developed By	Virginia Sawyer
Contact	Rachael Isphording
Resource(s)	Data Directory ReadMe
Data format	netCDF
Site	SGP
Content time range	14 June 1996 - 1 January 2012
Attribute accuracy	No formal attribute accuracy tests were conducted
Positional accuracy	No formal positional accuracy tests were conducted
Data Consistency and Completeness	Data set is considered complete for the information presented, as described in the abstract.Users are advised to read the rest of the metadata record carefully for addtional details.
Access Restriction	No access constraints are associated with this data.
Use Restriction	No use constraints are associated with this data.
Citations	Brooks, Ian M. (2003), Finding boundary layer top: Application of a wavelet covariance transform to lidar backscatter profiles, J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 20, 1092-1105. Davis, K. J., et al. (2000), An objective method for deriving atmospheric structure from airborne lidar observations, J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 17, 1455-1468. Hgeli, P., D.G. Steyn and K.B. Strawbridge (2000), Spatial and temporal variability of mixed-layer depth and entrainment zone thickness, Boundary-Layer Meteorol., 97, 47-71. Sawyer, V. and Z. Li (2013), Detection, variations and intercomparison of the planetary boundary layer depth from radiosonde, lidar and infrared spectrometer, Atmos. Env., 79, 518-528. Steyn, D.G., M. Baldi and R.M. Hoff (1999), The detection of mixed layer depth and entrainment zone thickness from lidar backscatter profiles, J. Atmos. Ocean. Technol., 16, 953-959.