Atmospheric Boundary Layer: Concepts and Measurements

• Published in: Air Pollution and Turbulence Vol. 1; pp. 15 - 32
• Main Author: Fisch, Gilberto
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: United Kingdom CRC Press 2010; Taylor & Francis Group
• Edition: 1
• Subjects: CIVIL ENGINEERING, SURVEYING & BUILDING; ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY; Meteorology; Eddy Covariance Technique; Sonic Anemometer; Surface Soil Moisture Conditions; Abl; LBA; Inertial Sub-range; Vice Versa; Comprehensive Air Quality Model; Urban Heat Island; Air Pollution Dispersion; Lagrangian Stochastic Model; Boundary Layer Meteorology; Ice Water Content; Inertial Subrange; Heat Fluxes; Weak Wind Conditions; Numerical Weather Models; Coastal Cliff; BAO; Atmospheric Boundary Layer; Convective Mixed Layer; Wind Tunnel; Boundary Layer; Dry Season Data; Turbulent Fluxes
• ISBN: 143981144X; 9781439811443; 1439811466; 9781439811467
• DOI: 10.1201/9781439847121-2

This chapter aims to introduce this important layer, the actual devices available for the measurements with their advantages and disadvantages, and presents some results for the field measurements in Amazonia. The atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is the lower part of the troposphere and from the meteorological point of view it plays an important role connecting the surface with the free atmosphere. The ABL plays an important role in meteorology, including studies of air pollution dispersion and aeronautical and aviation procedures regarding aircraft landing and takeoff. Also, the characteristics and behavior of the ABL by its turbulent exchange processes is very important and crucial in determining the local weather. The ABL can be studied by three different approaches: by measurements, by numerical modeling, and by simulations using wind tunnel. The direct measurements of the ABL can be classified as surface in situ measurements made by masts or towers, balloon-borne measurements made by rawinsoundings, and/or tethered balloons.