Testing the efficacy of atmospheric boundary layer height detection algorithms using uncrewed aircraft system data from MOSAiC

Methods of estimation of the atmospheric boundary layer height according to the rawinsonde measurements are considered. Calculations based on the data obtained during observations from the Perm land-based rawinsonde station for the period 2018 to 2024. The atmospheric boundary layer height was estimated based on calculations of the bulk Richardson number and the vertical gradient of the virtual potential temperature. The critical value of the Richardson number indicates atmospheric stability and turbulence. The first point at which the value of bulk Richardson number first reached the critical value is taken as the atmospheric boundary layer height. In other words, the atmospheric boundary layer it is the most turbulent layer of the atmosphere. The article suggests using four critical values of the Richardson number RiBC = {0,1; 0,25; 0,5; 1,0} . The critical value of the Richardson number RiBC = 1,0 shows the most accurate values of the atmospheric boundary layer height. It was determined that the maximum thickness of the atmospheric boundary layer is observed during daytime in summer (1800 m), and the minimum at nighttime in summer (500 m). Moreover, during daytime there is a trend of increasing of the atmospheric boundary layer height from winter to summer, and at nighttime the atmospheric boundary layer height has maximum values in the spring and autumn. Virtual potential temperature profiles are nearly adiabatic in the atmospheric boundary layer. The first point at which the vertical gradient of the virtual potential temperature becomes non-adiabatic is taken as the height of the atmospheric boundary layer. The article shows that values of the atmospheric boundary layer height based on calculations of the vertical gradient of the virtual potential temperature are too large. The use of the considered methods allows to estimate the atmospheric boundary layer height based on the rawinsonde data without making additional measurements, and these methods can be used to study the atmospheric processes occurring in this layer.

The atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) height defines the volume of air within which heat, moisture and pollutants released at the Earth’s surface are rapidly diluted. Despite the importance for air quality interpretation, numerical weather prediction, greenhouse gas assessment and renewable energy applications, amongst others, quantitative knowledge on the temporal and spatial variation in ABL height is still scarce. With continuous profiling of the entire ABL vertical extent at high temporal and vertical resolution now increasingly possible due to recent advances in ground-based remote sensing measurement technology and algorithm development, there are also dense measurement networks emerging across Europe and other parts of the world. To effectively monitor the spatial and temporal evolution of the ABL continuously at continent-scale, harmonised operations and data processing are key. Autonomous ground-based remote sensing instruments, such as microwave radiometers, radar wind profilers, Doppler wind lidars or automatic lidars and ceilometers, each offer different capabilities. The overarching objective of this review is to emphasize how these instruments are best exploited with informed network design, algorithm implementation, and data interpretation. A summary of the capability and limitations of each instrument type is provided together with a review of the vast number of retrieval methods developed for ABL height detection from different atmospheric quantities (temperature, humidity, wind, turbulence, aerosol). It is outlined how the diurnal evolution of the ABL can be monitored effectively with a combination of methods, highlighting where instrument or methodological synergy promise to be particularly valuable. To demonstrate the vast potential of increased ABL monitoring efforts, long-term observational studies are reviewed summarising our current understanding of ABL height variations. The review emphasizes that harmonised data acquisition and careful data processing are key to obtaining high-quality products, which are essential to capture the spatial and temporal complexity of the lowest part of the atmosphere in which we live and breathe.

The lack of sounding observations in the western Tibetan Plateau (TP), the highest terrain in the world, has resulted in few efforts to evaluate the quality of the atmospheric reanalysis results in this region. Using the sounding observations from the Third Tibetan Plateau Atmospheric Scientific Experiment during 2013–2015, the NCEP and ERA-Interim reanalysis temperature and humidity fields in the TP are evaluated and the characteristics of the reanalysis Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) height are utilized to explain the reasons for the differences in temperature and humidity between the western and eastern TP. The results show that the NCEP and ERA-Interim reanalysis temperature and humidity products generally have larger errors at low level (such as 500 hPa) in the western TP (WTP) than in the eastern one (ETP) at 12:00 UTC. However, this difference is small at 00:00 UTC. Further analysis reveals that the temporal and spatial variations of temperature and humidity errors at low level are closely associated with the differences in the terrain and ABL between the western and eastern TP. In the early morning when the ABL height is low over the TP, the 500 hPa pressure level in both the WTP and ETP is significantly above the top of ABL, with weak spatial variations of temperature and humidity errors. However, in the late afternoon when there is a larger increase in ABL height over the WTP than over the ETP, the 500 hPa pressure level is located inside the ABL in the WTP and is still above the ABL in the ETP, which causes significant regional differences in these errors.

We present here a new heuristic framework for the variability of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) height h based on an extended concept of the similarity theory retaining non-local effects. Based on several sets of well-known data (Wangara, JASIN, ICE-77), the locus of variability of h in the phase-space determined from this similarity framework points to a new combination for the most relevant scales affecting the ABL height. We show that the most likely length scales to explain the variability of the ABL height are the classical MoninObukhov length L and the background static stratification scale LfluJN, where U, is the friction velocity and N the Brunt-Vaisala frequency above the ABL. This concept is applied to a new set of data obtained above a hgh-latitude forested site, i.e., very different from the above mentioned field experiments. The correlation between the heuristic model and observed values of h reaches high values. This model can be applied to a wide range of quasi-stationary situations, so that relatively simple point measurements can be used to implement the model without calling for prognostic model equations and calculations.

Abstract. Accurate boundary layer structure and height are critical in the analysis of the features of air pollutants and local circulation. Although surface-based remote sensing instruments provide a high temporal resolution of the boundary layer structure, there are numerous uncertainties in terms of the accurate determination of the atmospheric boundary layer heights (ABLHs). In this study, an algorithm for an integrated system for ABLH estimation (ISABLE) was developed and applied to the vertical profile data obtained using a ceilometer and a microwave radiometer in Seoul city, Korea. A maximum of 19 ABLHs were estimated via the conventional time-variance, gradient, wavelet, and clustering methods using the backscatter coefficient from the ceilometer. Meanwhile, several stable boundary layer heights were extracted through near-surface inversion and environmental lapse rate methods using the potential temperature from the microwave radiometer. The ISABLE algorithm can find an optimal ABLH from post-processing, such as k-means clustering and density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) techniques. It was found that the ABLH determined using ISABLE exhibited more significant correlation coefficients and smaller mean bias and root mean square error between the radiosonde-derived ABLHs than those obtained using the most conventional methods. Clear skies exhibited higher daytime ABLH than cloudy skies, and the daily maximum ABLH was recorded in summer because of the more intense radiation. The ABLHs estimated by ISABLE are expected to contribute to the parameterization of vertical diffusion in the atmospheric boundary layer.

Abstract. This study evaluates methods to derive the surface mixing layer (SML) height of the Arctic atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) using in situ measurements inside the Arctic ABL during winter and the transition period to spring. An instrumental payload carried by a tethered balloon was used for the measurements between December 2019 and May 2020 during the year-long Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition. Vertically highly resolved (centimeter scale) in situ profile measurements of mean and turbulent parameters were obtained, reaching from the sea ice to several hundred meters above ground. Two typical conditions of the Arctic ABL over sea ice were identified: cloudless situations with a shallow surface-based inversion and cloudy conditions with an elevated inversion. Both conditions are associated with significantly different SML heights whose determination as accurately as possible is of great importance for many applications. We used the measured turbulence profile data to define a reference of the SML height. With this reference, a more precise critical bulk Richardson number of 0.12 was derived, which allows an extension of the SML height determination to regular radiosoundings. Furthermore, we have tested the applicability of the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory to derive SML heights based on measured turbulent surface fluxes. The application of the different approaches and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed.

The Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) height is a key parameter in air quality research as well as for numerical simulations and forecasts. The identification of thermally stable layers, often with radiosondes, has been a common approach for estimating ABL height, though with limited temporal coverage. Remote sensing techniques offer essentially continuous measurements. Nevertheless, ABL height retrievals from different methods can vary greatly when compared, which is particularly notable for topographically complex terrains, such as that surrounding Mexico City. This study, employing one year of data in Mexico City, reveals that the daytime convective boundary layer height (retrieved from Doppler lidar data) is typically lower than the aerosol layer height (retrieved from ceilometer data). Although both estimated heights evolved diurnally, the more elevated aerosol layer decays more slowly, suggesting that the mechanisms that elevate aerosols are not limited to convective motions. Additionally, both diurnal and seasonal variability are investigated, comparing remotely sensed-retrieved heights with thermally stable layers estimated from radiosonde data. Multiple stable layers often develop, those at higher levels have similar values to the ceilometer-retrieved heights, while stable layers at lower heights are similar to Doppler lidar height retrievals. The present research constitutes the first detailed analysis of ceilometer backscatter and Doppler lidar thresholding methods for estimating ABL height over Mexico City, and our results illustrate the complexity of mixing mechanisms on the ABL in this region of complex orography.

The boundary layer height obtained by the spline numerical differentiation method using COSMIC GPS radio occultation data: A case study of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) height is measured with the help of Monostatic SODAR (Sonic Detection And Ranging) System [1]. Meteorological aspects of Doppler free acoustic sounding (Mono-static SODAR system) of the atmosphere are considered [2, 3]. This instrument plays an important role in ABL studies using remote sensing techniques, where other techniques (like Radio-sonde, LIDAR, and Mast etc.) are difficult and expensive. Various features of Mono-static SODAR records with direct measurements with meteorological sensors in ABL are analysed. Some primary results regarding the statistical analysis of the ABL height, meteorological parameters, atmospheric pollutants of main physical parameter of the ABL (Atmosphere) were shown and discussed for the metropolitan city Delhi during the periods of October 2016 to February 2017. During mid-October to mid-November low height of ABL were observed due to high concentration of atmospheric pollutants and low wind speed. During the period of mid-December 2016 to mid-January 2017, fog episodes and strong low level elevated and inversions were observed most of the time.

<strong class="journal-contentHeaderColor">Abstract.</strong> The important roles of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) over the Arctic Ocean in the Arctic climate system have been recognized, but the atmospheric boundary layer height (ABLH), as a fundamental variable to characterize the vertical structure of ABL, has rarely been investigated. Analyzing a year-round radiosonde dataset during the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC), we suggest the optimal critical value of 0.15 of bulk Richardson number to derive ABLH. Based on this algorithm, the hourly ABLH values are derived to analyze the characteristics and variability of ABLH over the Arctic Ocean. The results reveal that the annual cycle is clearly characterized by a distinct peak in May and an abrupt decrease in the following July and August, with a second minimum in December and January. The annual ABLH variation is primarily controlled by the evolution of ABL thermal structure. The temperature inversions in the winter and summer are intensified by seasonal radiative cooling and surface melting, respectively, leading to the low ABLH. The near-surface conditions can also play a significant role in ABLH variation, with turbulent parameters (e.g., friction velocity and turbulent dissipation rate) well correlated with the ABL development. In addition, the MOSAiC ABLH is more suppressed than the ABLH during the Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean (SHEBA) experiment in the summer, which indicates that there is large variability in the Arctic ABL structure during summer melting season.

A solar-blind lidar system is developed by using Nd:YAG laser to produce 266nm wavelength at the frequency of 10Hz as the light source to to detect the height of boundary layer in Xi'an area. The observation experiment and analysis are made.The solar background light has no 266nm wavelength and the influence of it can be ignored in the daytime, and then all day detection can be realized. It can be detected in the daytime and nighttime. The wavelength of 266nm absorbed by ozone is considered only. The absolute minimum of first derivative and second derivative of the range-squared-corrected lidar signal are employed to retrieve height of boundary layer. Based on the observation of atmosphere in daytime and nighttime, the heights of atmospheric boundary layer are 0.44km and 0.47km, and the influences of meteorological factors and human activities on the height of atmospheric boundary layer are analyzed. The results showed that the lidar can satisfied the need for detection of troposphere atmospheric aerosol particles at all time and are beneficial to offer practical and effective data for monitoring atmospheric environment in Xi'an aera.

The atmospheric boundary layer height is important for constraining air pollution and meteorological models. This study attempted to validate the MODIS-estimated atmospheric boundary layer height (ABLH), and variation in the ABLH in Uganda was evaluated. The ABLH was estimated from MODIS data using the mixing ratio profile gradient method and compared to the ABLH estimated from radiosonde data using three different methods. Unlike in studies in other regions of the world, correlations between ABLH estimated using MODIS and radiosonde data were weak, implying limited usefulness of MODIS data for determining ABLH. However, the diurnal variation in MODIS-derived ABLH and particulate matter (PM10) was consistent with the expected inverse relationship between PM10 mass concentration and ABLH, and the mean MODIS-derived ABLH values were significantly lower during wet seasons than dry seasons, as expected.

This thesis tackles the problem of the automated detection of the atmospheric boundary layer (BL) height, h, from aerosol lidar/ceilometer observations. A new method, the Bayesian Selective Method (BSM), is presented. It implements a Bayesian statistical inference procedure which combines in an statistically optimal way different sources of information. Firstly atmospheric stratification boundaries are located from discontinuities in the ceilometer back-scattered signal. The BSM then identifies the discontinuity edge that has the highest probability to effectively mark the BL height. Information from the contemporaneus physical boundary layer model simulations and a climatological dataset of BL height evolution are combined in the assimilation framework to assist this choice. The BSM algorithm has been tested for four months of continuous ceilometer measurements collected during the BASE:ALFA project and is shown to realistically diagnose the BL depth evolution in many different weather conditions. Then the BASE:ALFA dataset is used to investigate the boundary layer structure in stable conditions. Functions from the Obukhov similarity theory are used as regression curves to fit observed velocity and temperature profiles in the lower half of the stable boundary layer. Surface fluxes of heat and momentum are best-fitting parameters in this exercise and are compared with what measured by a sonic anemometer. The comparison shows remarkable discrepancies, more evident in cases for which the bulk Richardson number turns out to be quite large. This analysis supports earlier results, that surface turbulent fluxes are not the appropriate scaling parameters for profiles of mean quantities in very stable conditions. One of the practical consequences is that boundary layer height diagnostic formulations which mainly rely on surface fluxes are in disagreement to what obtained by inspecting co-located radiosounding profiles.

The differences in planetary boundary layer characteristics, in particular atmospheric boundary layer height (ABLH), humidity, and local circulations in pre-monsoon and monsoon period over the Erhai Lake, were simulated by the lake-atmosphere coupled model WRF v3.7.1. No lake simulations were also conducted to investigate lake effects over complex topography. During pre-monsoon period, local circulation was fully developed under weak synoptic system. The ABLH ran up to 2300 m or so. During monsoon period, temperature difference between land and lake became smaller, resulting in weaker local circulations. The height of circulation reduced by 500 m, and ABLH ran up to 1100 m during the day. Enhanced soil moisture and low surface temperature due to monsoon rainfalls in July could be the main reason for the slightly lower ABLH over the Erhai Lake area. Specific humidity of the boundary layer increased 8.8 g kg−1 or so during monsoon period. The Erhai Lake enlarged thermal contrast between valley and mountain slope in the Dali Basin. The lake reduced air temperature by 2~3 °C during daytime and increased air temperature by nearly 2 °C in the evening. Due to its small roughness length and large thermal capacity, the Erhai Lake enlarged lake-land temperature difference and local wind speed. A cyclonic circulation was maintained by the combination of mountain breeze and land breeze in the south of the lake. The lake decreased air temperature, increased specific humidity, and reduced ABLH during daytime, whereas the opposite effect is presented at night.

The characteristics of boundary layer structure during a persistent regional haze event over the central Liaoning city cluster of Northeast China from 16 to 21 December 2016 were investigated based on the measurements of particulate matter (PM) concentration and the meteorological data within the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). During the observational period, the maximum hourly mean PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in Shenyang, Anshan, Fushun, and Benxi ranged from 276 to 355 μg m–3 and from 378 to 442 μg m–3, respectively, and the lowest hourly mean atmospheric visibility (VIS) in different cities ranged from 0.14 to 0.64 km. The central Liaoning city cluster was located in the front of a slowly moving high pressure and was mainly controlled by southerly winds. Wind speed (WS) within the ABL (< 2 km) decreased significantly and WS at 10-m height mostly remained below 2 m s–1 during the hazy episodes, which was favorable for the accumulation of air pollutants. A potential temperature inversion layer existed throughout the entire ABL during the earlier hazy episode from 0500 Local Time (LT) 18 December to 1100 LT 19 December, and then a potential temperature inversion layer developed with the bottom gradually decreased from 900 m to 300 m. Such a stable atmospheric stratification further weakened pollutant dispersion. The atmospheric boundary layer height (ABLH) estimated based on potential temperature profiles was mostly lower than 400 m and varied oppositely with PM2.5 in Shenyang. In summary, weak winds due to calm synoptic conditions, strong thermal inversion layer, and shallow atmospheric boundary layer contributed to the formation and development of this haze event. The backward trajectory analysis revealed the sources of air masses and explained the different characteristics of the haze episodes in the four cities.