On the evolution of the height and temperature difference across the nocturnal stable boundary layer

Evidence is furnished which indicates that in some cases the height of the stable boundary layer (SBL) and the magnitude of the temperature difference across the SBL may be more appropriately described by an error function erf(t/) rather than the generally accepted square root time dependence. The time constant was observed to have values of one to three hours. The discovery has been found to be site dependent, however, as data from other sites follow the usual square root time evolution.