Relationship between the planetary boundary layer height and the particle scattering coefficient at the surface

The relationship between the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) height and the particle scattering coefficient (σp) at the surface has been investigated with the main goal of estimating the PBL height from the ground-level particle optical properties that are simpler to measure and are provided by instruments as nephelometers, which can run continuously. A lidar system and an integrating nephelometer operating within the European infrastructure ACTRIS (Aerosols, Clouds, and Trace gases Research InfraStructure) have been used to simultaneously monitor the daily evolution of both the PBL height and σp. Measurements have been performed at a coastal site of south-eastern Italy, characterized by a shallow PBL (