Evidence Of Dynamical Coupling Between The Residual Layer And The Developing Convective Boundary Layer

The diurnal cycle of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) hasbeen documented on 8 August 1998 in the framework of the Étude et Simulation de la QUalité de l'air en Ile-de-France (ESQUIF) experiment that took place in the Paris area. The ABL structure was documented by means of a ground-based lidar, surface meteorological stations and soundings. The interaction between the residual layer and the convective boundary layer is investigated using the collected data as well as mesoscale modelling. As opposed to the generally accepted concept, we find evidence of entrainment at the top ofthe residual layer. High temporal simulations of the 8 August 1998 casemade with the mesoscale atmospheric model Meso-NH also show evidenceof mixing at the top of the residual layer (RL). This mixing is believed to be related to the presence of convective (gravity) waves in the RL.     

Determining Boundary-Layer Height from Aircraft Measurements

The height of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is an important variable in both observational studies and model simulations. The most commonly used measurement for obtaining ABL height is a rawinsonde profile. Mesoscale or regional scale models use a bulk Richardson number based on profiles of the forecast variables. Here we evaluate the limitations of several frequently-used approaches for defining ABL height from a single profile, and identify the optimal threshold value for each method if profiles are the only available measurements. Aircraft measurements from five field projects are used, representing a variety of ABL conditions including stable, convective, and cloud-topped boundary layers over different underlying surfaces. ABL heights detected from these methods were validated against the ‘true’ value determined from aircraft soundings, where ABL height is defined as the top of the layer with significant turbulence. A detection rate was defined to denote how often the ABL height was correctly diagnosed with a particular method. The results suggest that the temperature gradient method provides the most reasonable estimates, although the detection rate and suitable detection criteria vary for different types of ABL. The Richardson number method, on the other hand, is in most cases inadequate or inferior to the other methods that were tried. The optimal range of the detection criteria is given for all ABL types examined in this study.     

Effects of atmospheric boundary layer mixing representations on vertical distribution of passive and reactive tracers

Summary A one-dimensional chemistry-boundary layer model was used to study the effects of differing representations of atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) processes on simulated concentrations of passive and chemically reactive tracers. Two local- and two nonlocal-closure ABL schemes were used to perform numerical simulations during convective conditions in the ABL. Observational data from the First International Statellite Land Surface Climatology Project (ISLSCP) Field Experiment (FIFE) were used to provide initial meteorological conditions while representative chemical concentrations and surface and elevated emission rates were used to provide initial chemical conditions and chemical sources to the one-dimensional model. Two sets of numerical simulations were performed using the four ABL schemes. The first set simulated bottom-to-top mixing characteristics, and the second set simulated top-to-bottom mixing characteristics. Model simulations were performed for 12h starting from 0700LT 11 July 1987.Our analysis indicate that the simulated concentrations of both passive and reactive chemical species were sensitive to the type of ABL scheme used to represent turbulent mixing processes. Characteristic features associated with each scheme (e.g., growth and intensity of mixing in the ABL) contributed to the differences among the simulated species concentrations. For some of the chemical species these differences were large, particularly in the surface layer and in the interfacial layers of the ABL. In turn, differences caused by the differing mixing representations resulted in different chemical production/destruction rates. As a consequence, the simulated species concentrations differed among the simulations. We also found that chemical species concentrations were more sensitive to the type of ABL scheme in the bottom-to-top mixing simulations than in the top-to-bottom simulations.With 10 Figures     

Analysis of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Height Characteristics over the Arctic Ocean Using the Aircraft and GPS Soundings

Utilizing aircraft sounding data collected from the Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean (SHEBA, 1998) campaign, the authors evaluated commonly-used profile methods for Arctic ABL height estimation by validating against the’true’ABL height from aircraft sounding profiles, where ABL height is defined as the top of the layer with significant turbulence. Furthermore, the best performing method was used to estimate ABL height from the one-year GPS soundings obtained during SHEBA (October 1997-October 1998). It was found that the temperature gradient method produces a reliable estimate of ABL height. Additionally, the authors determined optimal threshold values of temperature gradient for stable boundary layer (SBL) and convective boundary layer (CBL) to be 6.5 K/100 m and 1.0 K/100 m, respectively. The maximum ABL height during the year was 1150 m occurred in May. Median values of Arctic ABL height in May, June, July, and August were 400 m, 430 m, 180 m, and 320 m, respectively. Arctic ABL heights are clearly higher in the spring than in the summer.     

热带西太平洋边界层的多层结构分析

本文主要利用第一次“中美热带西太平洋海气相互作用联合调查”所获得的海洋水文、气象及大气探测资料,分析了热带西太平洋暖水区边界层大气层结特征,指出热带西太平洋边界层大气具有多层结构和多层送温现象,边界层内各层厚度及气温、位温、混合比随高度的变化趋势如下:超绝热层位于地面以上50m左右,气温、位温、混合比迅速减小,系绝热不稳定层;第一层为混合层,平均厚度为351m,位温、混合比变化不明显;混合层上又是逆温层大多为30—100m厚,位温迅速增大,混合比迅速减小,系绝对稳定层;700—1000m为浅对流云活跃层,     

A Study of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Structure During a Clear Day in the Arid Region of Northwest China

The local climate and atmospheric circulation pattern exert a clear influence on the atmospheric boundary layer （ABL） formation and development in Northwest China. In this paper, we use field observational data to analyze the distribution and characteristics of the ABL in the extremely arid desert in Dunhuang, Northwest China. These data show that the daytime convective boundary layer and night time stable boundary layer in this area extend to higher altitudes than in other areas. In the night time, the stable boundary layer exceeds 900 m in altitude and can sometimes peak at 1750 m, above which the residual layer may reach up to about 4000 m. The daytime convective boundary layer develops rapidly after entering the residual layer, and exceeds 4000 m in thickness. The results show that the deep convective boundary layer in the daytime is a pre-requisite for maintaining the deep residual mixed layer in the night time. Meanwhile, the deep residual mixed layer in the night time provides favorable thermal conditions for the development of the convective boundary layer in the daytime. The prolonged periods of clear weather that often occurs in this area allow the cumulative effect of the atmospheric residual layer to develop fully, which creates thermal conditions beneficial for the growth of the daytime convective boundary layer. At the same time, the land surface process and atmospheric motion within the surface layer in this area also provide helpful support for forming the particular structure of the thermal ABL. High surface temperature is clearly the powerful external thermal forcing for the deep convective boundary layer. Strong sensible heat flux in the surface layer provides the required energy. Highly convective atmosphere and strong turbulence provide the necessary dynamic conditions, and the accumulative effect of the residual layer provides a favorable thermal environment.     

Characteristics and Numerical Simulations of Extremely Large Atmospheric Boundary-layer Heights over an Arid Region in North-west China

Over arid regions in north-west China, the atmospheric boundary layer can be extremely high during daytime in late spring and summer. For instance, the depth of the observed convective boundary layer can exceed 3,000 m or even be up to 4,000 m at some stations. In order to characterize the atmospheric boundary-layer (ABL) conditions and to understand the mechanisms that produce such an extreme boundary-layer height, an advanced research version of the community weather research and forecasting numerical model (WRF) is employed to simulate observed extreme boundary-layer heights in May 2000. The ability of the WRF model in simulating the atmospheric boundary layer over arid areas is evaluated. Several key parameters that contribute to the extremely deep boundary layer are identified through sensitivity experiments, and it is found that the WRF model is able to capture characteristics of the observed deep atmospheric boundary layer. Results demonstrate the influence of soil moisture and surface albedo on the simulation of the extremely deep boundary layer. In addition, the choice of land-surface model and forecast lead times also plays a role in the accurate numerical simulation of the ABL height.     

Case Studies of the Wintertime Convective Boundary-Layer Structure in the Urban Area of Milan, Italy

The paper describes some aspects of the convective boundary-layer structure based on simultaneous sodar and tethersonde measurements during a field experiment in the urban area of Milan in the period 8 to 20 February, 1993. During this period, fog episodes and strong low-level elevated inversions (with lower boundaries < 400 m) were observed most of the time. A close agreement in the mixing height values, derived from the sodar and tethersonde profiles, has been achieved under these conditions. The validity of the similarity relationships, which have been originally derived to describe the vertical velocity variance and heat flux profiles over horizontally homogeneous terrain under quasi-stationary conditions, was evaluated when applied to the urban boundary layer.     

太原城市下垫面扩张对边界层特征影响的个例研究

通过高分辨率卫星夜间灯光数据获取最新的城市地表分布,并利用高分辨率数值模式对2013年8月14~16日太原区域的一次高温过程进行研究,探讨城市下垫面扩张对大气边界层的影响。结果表明：基于DMSP/OLS夜间灯光数据对模式中地表参数修正后,能够更准确地反映太原主城区和高速公路沿线小规模建筑群的扩张,有效改善了模式的预报性能,显著提高对近地面气温、地表温度的预报能力。城市下垫面的扩张,使城区夜间升温明显,热岛强度增强。与1992年的城市化状况相比,晴空天气条件下,2012年太原城区夜间气温上升5℃,热岛强度升高2~3℃。城市下垫面扩张,改变了地表能量分配关系,使得地表感热传输明显加强,潜热通量明显减弱,城市冠层作用下的储热能力增强。边界层内部湍流交换、水汽输送等的进一步研究表明：城市地表水汽输送减弱,边界层水汽含量减少,2~4 km高度的水汽含量增加,湍流动能的影响高度增高,湍流混合加剧;14：00,城区边界层高度抬高了800 m,城市上空混合层加深,持续时间更长。     

Determination of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Height from Radiosonde and Lidar Backscatter

The height of the atmospheric boundary layer is derived with the help of two different measuring systems and methods. From radiosoundings the boundary layer height is determined by the parcel method and by temperature and humidity gradients. From lidar backscatter measurements a combination of the averaging variance method and the high-resolution gradient method is used to determine boundary layer heights. In this paper lidar-derived boundary layer heights on a 10 min basis are presented. Datasets from four experiments – two over land and two over the sea – are used to compare boundary layer heights from both methods. Only the daytime boundary layer is investigated because the height of the nighttime stable boundary layer is below the range of the lidar. In many situations the boundary layer heights from both systems coincide within ±200 m. This corresponds to the standard deviation of lidar-derived 10-min values within a 1-h interval and is due to the time and space variability of the boundary layer height. Deviations appear for certain situations and depend on which radiosonde method is applied. The parcel method fails over land surfaces in the afternoon when the boundary layer stabilizes and over the ocean when the boundary layer is slightly stable. An automatic radiosonde gradient method sometimes fails when multiple layers are present, e.g. a residual layer above the growing convective boundary layer. The lidar method has the advantage of continuous tracing and thus avoids confusion with elevated layers. On the other hand, it mostly fails in situations with boundary layer clouds     

Convective Redistribution of Ozone and Oxides of Nitrogen in the Troposphere over Europe in Summer and Fall

The fluxes of ozone and NO_x out of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) over Europe are calculated in a mesoscale chemical transport model (MCT) and compared with the net chemical production or destruction of ozone and the emissions of precursors within the ABL for two 10 days' periods which had quite different synoptic situations and levels of photochemical activity (1–10 July 1991 (JUL91) and 26 October–4 November 1994 (ON94)). Over the European continent, about 8% of the NO_x emissions were brought from the ABL to the free troposphere as NO_x, while about 15% of the NO_x emissions were brought to the free troposphere as NO_y–NO_x, i.e. as PAN or HNO₃. The convection dominates over the synoptic scale vertical advection as a transport mechanism both for NO_x and NO_y out of the boundary layer in the summertime high pressure situation (JUL91), while in the fall situation (ON94) the convective part was calculated to be the smallest. NO_x was almost completely transformed to NO_y–NO_x or removed within the ABL. Also for NO_y the major part of the atmospheric cycle is confined to the ABL both for JUL91 and ON94. The vertical transport time out of the ABL is of the order of 100h both for the total model domain and over the European continent. The net convective exchange of ozone from the ABL is not a dominant process for the amount of ozone in the ABL averaged over 10 days and the whole domain, but convection reduces the maximum ozone concentration in episodes significantly. The ozone producing efficiency of NO_x is calculated to increase with height to typically 15–20 in the upper half of the troposphere from around 5 in the ABL, but in the middle free troposphere the concentration of NO_x is often too low to cause net chemical formation of ozone there.     

Investigation on the fine structure of sea-breeze during ESCOMPTE experiment

Surface and remote-sensing instruments deployed during ESCOMPTE experiment over the Marseille area, along the Mediterranean coast, were used to investigate the fine structure of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) during sea-breeze circulation in relation to pollutant transport and diffusion. Six sea-breeze events are analyzed with a particular focus on 25 June 2001.Advection of cool and humid marine air over land has a profound influence on the daytime ABL characteristics. This impact decreases rapidly with the inland distance from the sea. Nearby the coast (3 km inland), the mixing height Zi rises up to 750 m and falls down after 15:00 (UT) when the breeze flow reaches its maximum intensity. A more classical evolution of the ABL is observed at only 11-km inland where Zi culminates in the morning and stabilizes in the afternoon at about 1000 m height.Fine inspection of the data revealed an oscillation of the sea-breeze with a period about 2 h 47 min. This feature, clearly discernable for 3 days at least, is present in several atmospheric variables such as wind, temperature, not only at the ground but also aloft in the ABL as observed by sodar/RASS and UHF wind profilers. In particular, the mixing height Zi deduced from UHF profilers observations is affected also by the same periodicity. This pulsated sea-breeze is observed principally above Marseille and, at the northern and eastern shores of the Berre pond.In summary, the periodic intrusion over land of cool marine air modifies the structure of the ABL in the vicinity of the coast from the point of view of stability, turbulent motions and pollutants concentration. An explanation of the source of this pulsated sea-breeze is suggested.     

Impact of Different Aerosols on the Evolution of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer

The present work analyzes the effect of aerosols on the evolution of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) over Shangdianzi in Beijing.A one-dimensional ABL model and a radiative transfer scheme are incorporated to develop the structure of the ABL.The diurnal variation of the atmospheric radiative budget,atmospheric heating rate,sensible and latent heat fluxes,surface and the 2 m air temperatures as well as the ABL height,and its perturbations due to the aerosols with different single-scattering albedo (SSA) are studied by comparing the aerosol-laden atmosphere to the clean atmosphere.The results show that the absorbing aerosols cause less reduction in surface evaporation relative to that by scatting aerosols,and both surface temperature and 2 m temperature decrease from the clean atmosphere to the aerosol-laden atmosphere.The greater the aerosol absorption,the more stable the surface layer.After 12:00 am,the 2 m temperature increases for strong absorption aerosols.In the meantime,there is a slight decrease in the 2 m temperature for purely scattering aerosols due to radiative cooling.The purely scattering aerosols decrease the ABL temperature and enhance the capping inversion,further reducing the ABL height.     

AN EVALUATION OF SEVERAL TURBULENCE SCHEMES FOR THE PREDICTION OF MEAN AND TURBULENT FIELDS IN COMPLEX TERRAIN

A prognostic three-dimensional mesoscale model has been developed andused in one- and two-dimensional modes to evaluate ten local turbulenceclosure schemes. The schemes ranged from first-order to the two-equationprognostic schemes. Predictions by the models were compared for aone-dimensional convective boundary layer using mixed layer scaling andmeasurements to interpret the results. Two-dimensional simulations were alsoperformed for a sea-breeze flow and for flow over a hill. The results showedthat for all of the models considered, minor differences were produced in themean meteorological fields and in the vertical scalar fluxes, but majordifferences were apparent in the velocity variances and dissipation rate.Predicted tracer concentrations were very sensitive to the turbulence modelformulation for dispersion from a point source in the convective boundarylayer, particularly for the prediction of maximum concentrations. Predictedtracer concentrations from a surface volume source for the two-dimensionalsimulations were similar for all models, although the degree of mixing in themorning growth period produced some differences. Generally, good results forthe mean meteorological fields can be obtained with first-order schemes, evenif they underpredict the magnitude of turbulence in the convective boundarylayer, and reasonable tracer concentrations can also be obtained with thesemodels provided near-source effects are not important. The two-equationprognostic models performed best for the prediction of turbulence in theconvective boundary layer.     

Numerical Study of Winter Urban Boundary Layer Structure over Beijing Area

1. Introduction The urban canopy layer (UCL) (Roth, 2000) is defined as a layer in the vertical structure of urban boundary layer (UBL) ranging from the surface to the top of buildings. The urban infrastructures within UCL, such as buildings with different heights, the het- erogeneity of urban land cover and the anthropogenic activity, all directly influence the thermal and dynam- ical structures of atmosphere and net radiation budget at the surface, meanwhile, affect the structure of ur- …     

结合激光雷达和探空资料研究青藏高原地区混合层高度特征

利用那曲地区的微脉冲激光雷达探测资料,采用梯度法获取了那曲地区白天混合层高度随时间的演变信息及混合层特征参数,结果表明混合层在上午发展缓慢,中午以后发展迅速,14:00（北京时）前后达到稳定;强烈的对流热泡活动导致混合层高度起伏较大,参数化反演得到的卷夹层厚度达到0.4~0.5 km,卷夹比在0.2左右。利用探空资料结合日最大位温资料,采用气块法得到了高原地区7个站点的每日最大混合层高度数据集。通过对由激光雷达和探空资料得到的最大混合层高度结果进行对比,发现二者有很好的一致性（相关系数0.85,均值偏差0.11 km,均方根误差0.30 km,并通过0.05显著性水平的t检验）。最大混合层高度在7个站点均有明显的逐日变化特征。从年均值看,最大混合层高度与海拔高度之间没有明显相关关系。从季节均值看,格尔木与都兰站表现出明显的春高冬低的分布特征,而其它五个站点则表现为春高夏低,表明高原地区的盆地地形和山地地形对混合层高度有显著而不同的影响。通过定义热力稳定度和确定特征气压层高度,利用热力稳定度与最大混合层高度之间良好的线性关系,获取了一种简便地获取最大混合层高度的统计方法。     

Small-Scale Horizontal Variability of Mean and Turbulent Quantities in the Nocturnal Boundary Layer

The study of the boundary layer can be most difficult when it is in transition and forced by a complex surface, such as an urban area. Here, a novel combination of ground-based remote sensing and in situ instrumentation in central London, UK, is deployed, aiming to capture the full evolution of the urban boundary layer (UBL) from night-time until the fully-developed convective phase. In contrast with the night-time stable boundary layer observed over rural areas, the night-time UBL is weakly convective. Therefore, a new approach for the detection of the morning-transition and rapid-growth phases is introduced, based on the sharp, quasi-linear increase of the mixing height. The urban morning-transition phase varied in duration between 0.5 and 4 h and the growth rate of the mixing layer during the rapid-growth phase had a strong positive relationship with the convective velocity scale, and a weaker, negative relationship with wind speed. Wind shear was found to be higher during the night-time and morning-transition phases than the rapid-growth phase and the shear production of turbulent kinetic energy near the mixing-layer top was around six times larger than surface shear production in summer, and around 1.5 times larger in winter. In summer under low winds, low-level jets dominated the UBL, and shear production was greater than buoyant production during the night-time and the morning-transition phase near the mixing-layer top. Within the rapid-growth phase, buoyant production dominated at the surface, but shear production dominated in the upper half of the UBL. These results imply that regional flows such as low-level jets play an important role alongside surface forcing in determining UBL structure and growth.     

利用TWP-ICE试验资料对比两种边界层参数化方案

利用高分辨率WRF单气柱模式,选取了两种边界层参数化方案(YSU,MYJ),对TWP-ICE(Tropical Warm Pool International Cloud Experiment)试验期间的个例进行数值模拟,比较了两种方案对边界层结构、云和降水模拟的影响。结果表明:季风活跃期,YSU方案模拟的湍流交换系数较小,湍流混合偏弱,边界层内热通量偏小,使地表热量和水汽不易向上输送,水汽含量在近地表明显偏多,而在边界层及其以上大气层具有显著的干偏差,因此该方案模拟的云中液态水和固态水含量偏低,云量偏少,降水率偏小;MYJ方案对于季风活跃期的边界层结构具有较好的模拟能力,其模拟的云和降水更为准确。季风抑制期,MYJ方案模拟的夜间边界层结构存在较大误差,这是因为该方案模拟的夜间湍流交换系数较大,湍流混合偏强,边界层内热通量偏大,模拟的位温和水汽混合比在边界层内随高度变化较小,而观测廓线在边界层内存在较大梯度。季风抑制期两种方案模拟的云和降水均比观测值偏多,方案之间的差异较小。     

近海与远洋飓风边界层特征高度的差异分析

使用1998—2016年大西洋40个飓风2 032个GPS下投式探空仪观测数据,以距离海岸线300 km为界分为近海和远洋两组,利用合成分析方法探讨了飓风边界层特征高度的差异。边界层特征高度的定义方法包括最大切向风高度、入流层高度、混合层高度和理查森数法高度。对比分析不同定义方法下近海和远洋边界层高度,结果表明：根据最大切向风和入流层强度定义的边界层高度,近海边界层高度低于远洋边界层高度,且近海边界层高度随径向增加至2倍最大风速半径后趋于稳定;基于混合层定义的边界层高度明显低于动力边界层高度,且近海与远洋混合边界层特征高度无明显差异;近海理查森数边界层高度在最大风速半径内与远洋的无明显差异,而在最大风速半径外略高于远洋的。