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A convective planetary boundary layer is a type of planetary boundary layer where positive buoyancy flux at the surface creates a thermal instability and thus generates additional or even major turbulence. (This is also known as having CAPE or convective available potential energy; see atmospheric convection.) A convective boundary layer is ...
The planetary boundary layer is the portion of the troposphere that is influenced by the interaction with the surface of the earth and will adjust to surface forcings within a timescale of 1 hour. [2] The planetary boundary layer is characterized by turbulence during the daytime and by stability during the night.
The up and downdrafts of boundary layer convection is the primary way in which the atmosphere moves heat, momentum, moisture, and pollutants between the Earth's surface and the atmosphere. Thus, boundary layer convection is important in the global climate modeling, numerical weather prediction, air-quality modeling and the dynamics of numerous ...
The Obukhov length is used to describe the effects of buoyancy on turbulent flows, particularly in the lower tenth of the atmospheric boundary layer. It was first defined by Alexander Obukhov [1] in 1946. [2] [3] It is also known as the Monin–Obukhov length because of its important role in the similarity theory developed by Monin and Obukhov. [4]
An elevated inversion layer is thus a region of warm air above a region of cold air, but higher in the atmosphere (generally not touching the surface). A capping inversion occurs when there is a boundary layer with a normal temperature profile (warm air rising into cooler air) and the layer above that is an inversion layer (cooler air below ...
Similarity theory is extensively used in boundary layer meteorology since relations in turbulent processes are not always resolvable from first principles. [ 2 ] An idealized vertical profile of the mean flow for a neutral boundary layer is the logarithmic wind profile derived from Prandtl 's mixing length theory , [ 3 ] which states that the ...
A schematic diagram of showing the main processes of coupled (left) and decoupled (right) stratocumulus-topped atmospheric boundary layers: primary circulation (yellow arrows), turbulence eddy cascade (circular arrows confined in an angle with extent proportional to inertial range scaling exponent p), TKE buoyancy production (red B letter of size proportional to strength), sensible and latent ...
Representations of the atmospheric boundary layer in global climate models play a role in simulations of past, present, and future climates.Representing the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) within global climate models (GCMs) are difficult due to differences in surface type, scale mismatch between physical processes affecting the ABL and scales at which GCMs are run, and difficulties in ...