Seasonal Variability in the Diurnal Evolution of the Boundary Layer in a Near-Coastal Urban Environment

• Published in: Journal of atmospheric and oceanic technology Vol. 29; no. 5; pp. 697 - 710
• Main Authors: Haman, Christine L, Lefer, Barry, Morris, Gary A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston American Meteorological Society 01.05.2012
• Subjects: Aerosols; Boundary layer; Boundary layer evolution; Boundary layer height; Boundary layers; Convection; Diurnal; Estimates; Height; Lidar; Outdoor air quality; Ozone; Precipitation; Radiosondes; Remote sensing; Seasonal variability; Seasonal variation; Seasonal variations; Seasons; Surface boundary layer; Surface layers; Urban environments; Vertical profiles; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; Wind; Wind speed; Gulf of Mexico; United States > US; Texas; Galveston Bay
• ISSN: 0739-0572; 1520-0426
• DOI: 10.1175/JTECH-D-11-00114.1

Abstract Boundary layer height is estimated during a 21-month period in Houston, Texas, using continuous ceilometer observations and the minimum-gradient method. A comparison with over 60 radiosondes indicates overall agreement between ceilometer- and radiosonde-estimated PBL and residual layer heights. Additionally, the ceilometer-estimated PBL heights agree well with 31 vertical profiles of ozone. Difficulty detecting the PBL height occurs immediately following a frontal system with precipitation, during periods with high wind speeds, and in the early evening when convection is weakening, a new stable surface layer is forming, and the lofted aerosols detected by the lidar do not represent the PBL. Long-term diurnal observations of the PBL height indicate nocturnal PBL heights range from approximately 100 to 300 m throughout the year, while the convective PBL displays more seasonal and daily variability typically ranging from 1100 m in the winter to 2000 m in the summer.