A routine for the calculation of the time-dependent height of the atmospheric boundary layer from surface-layer parameters

• Published in: Boundary-layer meteorology Vol. 82; no. 1; pp. 105 - 117
• Main Authors: MARTANO, P, ROMANELLI, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 1997; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Atmosphere; Atmospheric boundary layer; Boundaries; Boundary layers; Convection, turbulence, diffusion. Boundary layer structure and dynamics; Data reduction; Earth, ocean, space; Estimates; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Fittings; Friction; Inversions; Lapse rate; Mathematical models; Meteorology; Routines; Sensible heat; Height; Diurnal variation; Atmospheric boundary layer; One dimensional model
• ISSN: 0006-8314; 1573-1472
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1000108931522

A simple routine has been implemented to deduce the 24-hourevolution of the height of the atmospheric boundary layer. This uses a reduced data set of surface-layer parameters, as obtained for examplefrom surface automatic stations. The routine is based on the combination and fitting of the three alreadyexistent models for the evolution of the convectiveboundary layer, the stable boundary layer, and the surface inversionlayer. Hourly values of temperature, friction velocity and potentialtemperature scale (or sensible heat flux) in the surface layer need onlyto be supplied as input data. The lapse rate at the top of the daytime mixed layer is derived fromthe calculated surface inversion profile at sunrise, so that only a roughevaluation of the lapse rate in the free atmosphere remains to be given.The sensitivity of the mixed-layer height is expected to be not verystrong with respect to this last parameter (final part of the growth). The routine has shown satisfactory performances when compared withsodar measurements, working with only a rough average estimate of thefree atmosphere lapse rate.