Summertime Mixing Heights At Vienna, Austria, Estimated from Vertical Soundings and by a Numerical Model

Mixing heights calculated by the Danish OML meteorological pre-processor are compared to those diagnosed from radio- and tether-sonde vertical potential temperature profiles. All methods give reliable estimates of noon mixing heights deduced from radiosoundings, especially when the boundary layer is fully convective. Differences are larger during convective conditions without a well-defined capping inversion in the radiosonde potential temperature profile or when OML calculates a mechanical mixing height. The OML model is also able to calculate the daily course of the mixing height as expected. The tethersonde-derived mixing heights are especially valuable during the morning rise of the elevated inversion. Modifications to all three methods to improve mixing-height predictions are discussed.