1. Atmospheric boundary layer height from ground-based remote sensing: a review of capabilities and limitations
- Author
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Simone Kotthaus, Juan Antonio Bravo-Aranda, Martine Collaud Coen, Juan Luis Guerrero-Rascado, Maria João Costa, Domenico Cimini, Ewan J. O’Connor, Maxime Hervo, Lucas Alados-Arboledas, María Jiménez-Portaz, Lucia Mona, Dominique Ruffieux, Anthony Illingworth, and Martial Haeffelin
- Subjects
Atmospheric Science - Abstract
The atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) defines the volume of air adjacent to the Earth’s surface for the dilution of heat, moisture, and trace substances. Quantitative knowledge on the temporal and spatial variations in the heights of the ABL and its sub-layers is still scarce, despite their importance for a series of applications (including, for example, air quality, numerical weather prediction, greenhouse gas assessment, and renewable energy production). Thanks to recent advances in ground-based remote-sensing measurement technology and algorithm development, continuous profiling of the entire ABL vertical extent at high temporal and vertical resolution is increasingly possible. Dense measurement networks of autonomous ground-based remote-sensing instruments, such as microwave radiometers, radar wind profilers, Doppler wind lidars or automatic lidars and ceilometers are hence emerging across Europe and other parts of the world. This review summarises the capabilities and limitations of various instrument types for ABL monitoring and provides an overview on the vast number of retrieval methods developed for the detection of ABL sublayer heights from different atmospheric quantities (temperature, humidity, wind, turbulence, aerosol). It is outlined how the diurnal evolution of the ABL can be monitored effectively with a combination of methods, pointing out where instrumental or methodological synergy are considered particularly promising. The review highlights the fact that harmonised data acquisition across carefully designed sensor networks as well as tailored data processing are key to obtaining high-quality products that are again essential to capture the spatial and temporal complexity of the lowest part of the atmosphere in which we live and breathe., European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) PTDC/CTAMET/29678/2017 European Commission, French National Research Agency (ANR) Region Ile-de-France, Spanish Government, Junta de Andalucia, University of Granada, Programa Operativo FEDER Andalucia 2014-2020, Earth System Excellence Units Program, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action Cofund 2016 EU project - Athenea3i national Portuguese funds through FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, I.P. CA18235 871115 101036245 ANR-20-CE22-0013 PID2020-120015RB-I00 PID2020.117825GB.C21 P18-RT-3820 P20-00136 A-RNM-430-UGR20 754446 UIDB/04683/2020
- Published
- 2023