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

正ERRATUM to: Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters, 4(2011), 124-130 On page 126 of the printed edition (Issue 2, Volume 4), Fig. 2 was a wrong figure because the contact author made mistake giving the wrong one. The corrected edition has been updated on our website. The editorial office is sincerely sorry for any     

探空观测的边界层高度时空变化特征

基于2010—2018年我国119个站点L波段探空秒级资料,通过对位温廓线法所得边界层高度进行Kmeans聚类,将我国分为青藏地区、西北地区、中部地区和东部地区4个分区,分析我国边界层高度及边界层状态（对流、中性和稳定边界层）发生频率的变化特征。结果表明：2010—2018年08：00我国年平均边界层高度均为200~600 m,以稳定边界层为主,20：00年平均边界层高度从青藏地区、西北地区、中部地区到东部地区逐渐减小,其中青藏地区和西北地区全年以对流和中性边界层状态为主,中部地区和东部地区以中性边界层为主;4个分区的月平均边界层高度在08：00逐月变化不明显,且各分区间差异不大,而4个分区20：00月平均边界层高度随时间呈单峰结构,最大值出现在春夏季,最小值出现在秋冬季,从青藏地区、西北地区、中部地区到东部地区变化幅度逐渐减小;青藏地区、西北地区和中部地区的边界层高度日变化幅度春夏季大、秋冬季小,而东部地区边界层高度日变化在不同季节特征相近。     

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     

The Summer Arctic Boundary Layer during the Arctic Ocean Experiment 2001 (AOE-2001)

Boundary-layer measurements made from the Swedish icebreaker Oden during the Arctic Ocean Experiment 2001 (AOE-2001) are analysed. They refer mainly to ice drift in the central Arctic during the period 2–21 August 2001. On board Oden a remote sensing array with a wind profiler, cloud radar and a scanning microwave radiometer, and a regular weather station operated continuously; soundings were also released during research stations. Turbulence and profile measurements on an 18-m mast were deployed on the ice, along with two sodar systems, a microbarograph array and a tethered sounding system. Surface flux and meteorological stations were also deployed on nearby ice floes. There is a clear diurnal cycle in radiation and also in wind speed, cloud base and visibility. It is absent in temperature and humidity, probably due to the very strong control by melting/ freezing ice and snow. In the advection of warm air, latent heat of melting maintains the surface temperature at 0 °C, while with a negative energy balance the latent heat of freezing of the salty ocean water acts to maintain the surface temperature > −2 °C. The constant presence of water at the surface maintains a relative humidity close to 100%, and this is also often facilitated by an increasing specific humidity through the capping inversion, making entrainment a moisture source. This ensures cloudy conditions, with low cloud and fog prevailing most of the time. Intrusions of warm and moist air from beyond the ice edge are frequent, but the local Arctic boundary layer remains at a relatively constant temperature, and is shallow and well mixed with strong capping inversions. Power spectra of surface-layer wind speed sometimes show large variance at low frequency. A scanning radiometer provides a monitoring of the vertical thermal structure with a spatial and temporal resolution not seen before in the Arctic. There are often two inversions, an elevated main inversion and a weak surface inversion, and occasionally additional inversions occur. Enhanced entrainment across the main inversion appears to occur during frontal passages. Variance of the scanning radiometer temperatures occurs in large pulses rather than varying smoothly, and the height to the maximum variance appears to be a reasonable proxy for the boundary-layer depth.     

敦煌夏末大气垂直结构和边界层高度特征

本文利用西北干旱区陆-气相互作用野外观测试验 (NWC－ALIEX) 2008年8月11～18日的探空试验资料, 分析了中国西北干旱区敦煌地区的大气垂直结构和边界层高度特征。结果表明, 对流层顶大约在距地15000 m高度左右, 为第二 (副热带) 对流层顶; 水汽主要集中在距地6500 m以下对流层, 0℃层在距地3000～4000 m高度波动, 逆湿层高度在0℃层左右摆动; 在距地5000 m以上的对流层基本被西北风或偏西风统治, 在距地9000～13000 m左右的对流层高层, 存在一个风速为25～50 m/s的西北风或偏西风极大值; 敦煌夏末存在特厚边界层, 对流边界层高度可达4200 m, 稳定边界层高度可达1300 m。     

北京城区大气边界层高度的反演研究

采用北京市国家大气探测试验基地2017年5月1日至2019年8月31日的微波辐射计观测结果,通过位温气块法反演了该地区的大气边界层高度,统计其日变化和月际变化特征,并与相应的探空反演结果进行对比.结果表明:日间大气边界层高度的变化特征与日照时长对应关系很好.除热力作用外,边界层高度受地面风速的影响较大,近地面的较强大风...     

Western Arctic Cyclones and Equilibrium between the Atmospheric Boundary Layer and the Sea Surface

The data-collection campaign for the 2008 International Polar Year–Circumpolar Flaw Lead System Study saw the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Amundsen, a research icebreaker, overwinter in high-concentration unconsolidated sea ice in Amundsen Gulf. Environmental monitoring continued into the open-water season. During this period, the Amundsen registered five relatively deep mean sea-level pressure minima (less than 100?kPa). Three were selected for further analysis based on season and the nature of the underlying ocean or sea-ice surface: (1) a winter pressure minimum over unconsolidated sea ice, (2) a spring pressure minimum which likely contributed to the break-up of the sea-ice cover on Amundsen Gulf, and (3) a summer pressure minimum over open water. The characteristics of these pressure minima and the impact of their passage on the atmospheric boundary layer and on the sea-ice cover as they crossed Amundsen Gulf were examined. Several features were revealed by the analysis. (1) The winter and summer pressure minima were migratory cyclones accompanied by Arctic frontal waves with characteristics very similar to the polar frontal waves associated with the migratory cyclones found at more southerly latitudes, whereas the spring pressure minimum was attributed to an Arctic frontal trough of low pressure with the cyclonic centre remaining south of the Gulf. (2) The passage of the frontal-wave cyclone in winter and the frontal trough of low pressure in spring disrupted the equilibrium that had been established during more settled periods between the atmospheric boundary layer and the mosaic surface (leads, polynyas, and sea ice); however, equilibrium was quickly re-established. (3) In summer, the thermal structure of the lower atmospheric boundary layer persisted through the passage of the frontal-wave cyclone over the open-water surface. (4) The passage of the frontal-wave cyclone in winter and the frontal trough of low pressure in spring modified the mesoscale sea-icescape.     

Comparison of Estimated Atmospheric Boundary Layer Mixing Height in the Arctic and Southern Great Plains under Statically Stable Conditions: Experimental and Numerical Aspects

The atmospheric boundary layer mixing height (MH) is an important bulk parameter in air quality (AQ) modelling. Formulating this parameter under statically stable conditions, such as in the Arctic, has historically been difficult. In an effort to improve AQ modelling capacity in North America, MH is studied in two geographically distinct areas: the Arctic (Barrow, Alaska) and the southern Great Plains (Lamont, Oklahoma). Observational data from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program, Climate Research Facility and numerical weather forecasting data from Environment Canada's Regional Global Environmental Multiscale (GEM15) model have been used in order to examine the suitability of available parameterizations for MH under statically stable conditions and also to compare the level of agreement between observed and modelled MH. The analysis period is 1 October 2011 to 1 October 2012. The observations alone suggest that profile methods are preferred over surface methods in defining MH under statically stable conditions. Surface methods exhibit poorer comparison statistics with observations than profile methods. In addition, the fitted constants for surface methods are site-dependent, precluding their applicability for modelling under general conditions. The comparison of observations and GEM15 MH suggests that although the agreement is acceptable in Lamont, the default model surface method contributes to a consistent overprediction of MH in Barrow in all seasons. An alternative profile method for MH is suggested based on the bulk Richardson number. This method is shown to reduce the model bias in Barrow by a factor of two without affecting model performance in Lamont.     

The Atmospheric Boundary Layer In An Arctic Wintertime On-Ice Air Flow

A warm on-ice air flow from the open water over the Arctic sea ice in the Fram Straitwas, for the first time, systematically measured on 12 March 1998 by aircraft in thelowest 3 km over a 300-km long distance. The air mass modification and the processesinvolved are discussed.Over the water, air temperature was lower than water temperature so that a convectiveboundary layer (CBL) was present as initial condition. As soon as the CBL passed theice edge, a shallow stable internal boundary layer (IBL) was formed. In the residual CBL, turbulence and pre-existing convective clouds dissolved within about 20 km. Within about the same distance, due to the transition from unstable to stable stratification, the influence of surface friction increased in the IBL and decreased above the IBL with consequent generation of a low-level jet at IBL top. The IBL was strongly stratified with respect to both temperature and wind. The wind shear was around 0.1 s^-1 so that the Richardson number in the IBL was subcritical and turbulence was generated. The IBL top grew to about 145 m over 230 km distance. The growth of the IBL was not monotonic and was influenced by (a) inhomogeneous ice surface temperatures causedby both different ice thickness and changes in the cloud conditions, and (b) leads in theice deck. At the front side of the on-ice flow, the air mass boundary between the warmair and the cold Arctic air was sharp (12 K over 10 km) at low levels and tilted withheight. Observations suggest that the stratified IBL was lifted as a slab on top of thecold air.     

Determining Atmospheric Boundary Layer Height with the Numerical Differentiation Method Using Bending Angle Data from COSMIC

This paper presents a new method to estimate the height of the atmospheric boundary layer(ABL) by using COSMIC radio occultation bending angle(BA) data. Using the numerical differentiation method combined with the regularization technique, the first derivative of BA profiles is retrieved, and the height at which the first derivative of BA has the global minimum is defined to be the ABL height. To reflect the reliability of estimated ABL heights, the sharpness parameter is introduced, according to the relative minimum of the BA derivative. Then, it is applied to four months of COSMIC BA data(January, April, July, and October in 2008), and the ABL heights estimated are compared with two kinds of ABL heights from COSMIC products and with the heights determined by the finite difference method upon the refractivity data. For sharp ABL tops(large sharpness parameters), there is little difference between the ABL heights determined by different methods, i.e.,the uncertainties are small; whereas, for non-sharp ABL tops(small sharpness parameters), big differences exist in the ABL heights obtained by different methods, which means large uncertainties for different methods. In addition, the new method can detect thin ABLs and provide a reference ABL height in the cases eliminated by other methods. Thus, the application of the numerical differentiation method combined with the regularization technique to COSMIC BA data is an appropriate choice and has further application value.     

The Stable Atmospheric Boundary Layer over an Antarctic ice Sheet

Turbulence measurements up to 11-m height and longterm profile measurements up to 45-m height performed at the German Neumayer Station in Antarctica are used to investigate different components of turbulence closure schemes of the stable boundary layer. The results confirm the linear relationships for the universal functions of momentum and heat exchange in the stability range z/L < 0.8 ... 1, whereas the local scaling approach should be used above the surface layer. Furthermore, boundary-layer heights below 50 m are frequently observed at this coastal Antarctic site, mainly due to the influence of stability above the boundary layer. It is shown that the inclusion of this stability into parametrization relations is necessary to provide realistic equilibrium heights of the stable boundary layer. Two relations, based on different physical approaches, were successfully applied for the parametrization of the equilibrium height.     

利用激光雷达结合数值模式估算兰州远郊榆中地区夏季边界层高度

用激光雷达资料,采用小波变化法反演兰州远郊榆中地区兰州大学半干旱气候与环境观测站(SACOL)的边界层高度,并利用WRF中尺度数值模式,选取两种不同边界层参数化方案(YSU、MYJ)模拟了该地区边界层及其高度.分析表明激光雷达反演边界层高度与WRF模拟边界层高度结果基本一致;WRF选用YSU方案能较好反映热对流边界层,而MYJ方案对于动力作用边界层模拟较好.日出后08:00(北京时间,下同)SACOL不稳定边界层开始发展,17:00达到最大高度.热对流边界层可以达到2 km;动力作用边界层可达到1.5 km,之后热对流边界层下降速度明显高于动力作用边界层.     

大气边界层风速脉动的分形模拟

应用曲线分数维计算方法计算大气边界层实际风速观测资料的分数维值,并根据分形理论构造出一个理论模型来模拟真实的大气边界层风速时间序列。将模拟和真实数据的一些重要的统计特征,例如方差、风速概率分布、谱密度函数和自相关函数等,进行了比较,结果表明二者具有很好的一致性。     

Mesoscale Variability in the Summer Arctic Boundary Layer

Observations from the summer Arctic Ocean Experiment 2001 (AOE-2001) are analysed with a focus on the interactions between mesoscale and boundary-layer dynamics. Wavelet analyses of surface-pressure variations show daylong periods with different characteristics, some featuring episodes of pronounced high-frequency surface-pressure variability, here hypothesized to be caused by trapped gravity waves. These episodes are accompanied by enhanced boundary-layer turbulence and an enhanced spectral gap, but with only minor influence on the surface stress. During these episodes, mesoscale phenomena were often encountered and usually identified as front-like features in the boundary layer, with a peak in drizzle followed by changing temperature. These phenomena resemble synoptic fronts, though they are generally shallow, shorter-lasting, have no signs of frontal clouds, and do not imply a change in air mass. Based on this analysis, we hypothesize that the root cause of the episodes with high-frequency surface-pressure variance are shallow, mesoscale fronts moving across the pack ice. They may be formed due to local-to-regional horizontal contrasts, for example, between air with different lifetimes over the Arctic or with perturbations in the cloud field causing differential cooling of the boundary layer. Thermal contrasts sharpen as the air is transported with the mean flow. The propagating mesoscale fronts excite gravity waves, which affect the boundary-layer turbulence and also seem to favour entrainment of free tropospheric air into the boundary layer.     

NCAR分析资料在大气边界层内误差的初步分析

通过比较1998年南海季风试验(SCSMEX)期间(1998年5月5日～5月25日,6月4日～6月20日)7个站点的探空加密观测资料与NCAR分析资料,分析了在大气边界层内分析资料存在的误差.结果表明:在大气边界层内,NCAR分析资料存在较大的误差.位温和比湿误差随着高度的增加呈现下高上低的特征.比湿的误差要大于位温的误差,7个站点的位温均方差最小值基本都小于1 K,最大均方差也不大于2 K,而比湿均方差最小值基本都大于1.0 g·kg~(-1),部分站点的误差最大值超过2.0 g·kg~(-1).初步说明,下垫面对NCAR分析资料误差的产生有较大影响,内陆地区和海岛地区的分析资料位温的误差比沿海地区大,而比湿数据则相反;在垂直方向上,分析资料的位温误差在0.98～1.33 K之间,比湿误差介于1.39～1.60 g·kg~(-1)之间.     

Evaluation of the Ocean Feedback on Height Characteristics of the Tropical Cyclone Boundary Layer

In this study, the interaction between the tropical cyclone（TC） and the underlying ocean is reproduced by using a coupled atmosphere-ocean model. Based on the simulation results, characteristics of the TC boundary layer depth are investigated in terms of three commonly used definitions, i.e., the height of the mixed layer depth（HVTH）, the height of the maximum tangential winds（HTAN）, and the inflow layer depth（HRAD）. The symmetric height of the boundary layer is shown to be cut down by the ocean response, with the decrease of HVTH slightly smaller than that of HTAN and HRAD. The ocean feedback also leads to evident changes in asymmetric features of the boundary layer depth. The HVTH in the right rear of the TC is significantly diminished due to presence of the cold wake, while the changes of HVTH in other regions are rather small. The decreased surface virtual potential temperature by the cold wake is identified to be dominant in the asymmetric changes in HVTH. The impacts of ocean response on the asymmetric distributions of HTAN are nonetheless not distinct, which is attributed to the highly axisymmetric property of tangential winds. The HRAD possesses remarkable asymmetric features and the inflow layer does not exist in all regions, an indication of the inadequacy of the definition based on symmetric inflow layer depth. Under influences of the cold wake, the peak inflow area rotates counterclockwise distinctly. As a consequence, the HRAD becomes deeper in the east while shallower in the west of the TC.     

大气边界层和大气环境研究进展

大气边界层物理和大气环境是大气科学的重要领域,中国科学院大气物理研究所自成立以来在这一研究领域取导了丰硕的成果.作者重点介绍最近十多年来在大气边界层探测、大气边界层结构特征、大气湍流理论、城市和区域大气污染预测预报模式研究等方面取得的重要进展,并对大气边界层和大气环境研究的未来发展作了展望.     

金沙江下游局地大气边界层风场变化特征

利用2008年在金沙江下游溪洛渡水电站坝区及向家坝水电站库区获得GPS低空探空资料以及同步地面观测资料,统计分析了坝区从地面开始到大气边界层2000 m高度四季不同高度的风场变化特征.结果表明:(1)春季溪洛渡坝区大气边界层以偏西风为主导风向,1500m高度层以下静风和小风出现频率大,是四个季节中地面静风、小风出现频率的最大值;(2)夏季地面静风、小风出现频率为四个季节中最小,夏季大气边界层中低层主要盛行西风和西北偏西风;(3)秋季溪洛渡坝区大气边界层中低层主要盛行偏西风,到高层则逐渐转变为偏北风;(4)冬季溪洛渡坝区大气边界层低空盛行以西风和西北偏西风为主导的偏西风;中高层主要风向是西风、西南偏西风、东风和东北偏东风;(5)溪洛渡坝区秋、冬季大气边界层西风、东北偏北风、东北偏东风风速最大值均出现在2000m高度层.     

地基微波辐射计探测大气边界层高度方法

采用2013年中国科学院大气物理研究所香河大气综合观测试验站的地基微波辐射计和激光雷达观测数据,以激光雷达探测的大气边界层高度为参考,分别利用非线性神经网络和多元线性回归方法建立微波亮温直接反演大气边界层高度的算法,并对比两种方法的反演能力, 同时分析非线性神经网络算法在不同时段及不同天气状况下反演结果的差异。结果表明:非线性神经网络算法的反演能力优于多元线性回归算法,其反演结果与激光雷达探测的大气边界层高度有较好一致性,冬、春季的相关系数达到0.83,反演精度比线性回归算法约高26%;对于不同时段和不同天气条件,春季的反演结果最好,晴空的反演结果好于云天; 四季和不同天气状况的划分也有利于提高反演精度。     

宜昌冬季两次降水过程大气边界层的观测分析

利用宜昌2007年12月10-25日的加密观测资料,分析了两次低值系统经过宜昌时大气边界层的温湿风廓线结构及其日变化特征。结果表明：位温廓线具有明显的日变化特征,对流边界层在白天出现和发展,其高度可达600m,而稳定边界层在夜间出现和发展,其高度可达300m,降水会抑制对流边界层和稳定边界层的发展;湿度廓线结构及其日变化与对流边界层的发展有关,总体上湿度随高度减小,贴近地面的薄层湿度随高度减小较快,而混合层内湿度随高度变化较小,出现降水时,近地层的湿度有明显增加,大气边界层内湿度随高度快速平稳减小;风速廓线结构比较复杂,总体上风速随高度增大,在大气边界层低层有时会出现一个风速极大值,风速廓线没有明显的日变化特征,大气边界层内风向变化较大,但以偏东风为主。