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Frequency of Boundary-Layer-Top Fluctuations in Convective and Stable Conditions Using Laser Remote Sensing

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Abstract

The planetary boundary-layer (PBL) height is determined with high temporal and altitude resolution from lidar backscatter profiles. Then, the frequencies of daytime thermal updrafts and downdrafts and of nighttime gravity waves are obtained applying a fast Fourier transform on the temporal fluctuation of the PBL height. The principal frequency components of each spectrum are related to the dominant processes occurring at the daytime and nighttime PBL top. Two groups of cases are selected for the study: one group combines daytime cases, measured in weak horizontal wind conditions and dominated by convection. The cases show higher updraft and downdraft frequencies for the shallow, convective boundary layer and lower frequencies for a deep PBL. For cases characterized by strong horizontal winds, the frequencies directly depend on the wind speed. The temporal variation of the PBL height is determined also in the likely presence of lee waves. For nighttime cases, the main frequency components in the spectra do not show a real correlation with the nocturnal PBL height. Altitude fluctuations of the top of the nocturnal boundary layer are observed even though the boundary layer is statically stable. These oscillations are associated with the wind shear effect and with buoyancy waves at the PBL top.

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Abbreviations

PBL:

Planetary boundary layer

CBL:

Convective boundary layer

EARLINET:

European Aerosol Research Lidar Network

EC:

European Commission

EZ:

Entrainment zone

FFT:

Fast Fourier transform

FOV:

Field of View

GS:

Gradient signal

KH:

Kelvin–Helmholtz

NBL:

Nocturnal boundary layer

RCS:

Range-corrected signal

SNR:

Signal-to-noise ratio

UTC:

Universal Coordinated Time

Var:

Variance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physics & Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, Environmental Change Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland

    Giovanni Martucci

  2. Laboratory for Time and Frequency, Institute of Physics, University of Neuchâtel, 2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

    Renaud Matthey

  3. CSEM – Centre Suisse d’électronique et de Microtechnique, Rue Jaquet-Droz 1, 2002, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

    Valentin Mitev

  4. Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH Hönggerberg HPP, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland

    Hans Richner

Authors
  1. Giovanni Martucci
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  2. Renaud Matthey
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  3. Valentin Mitev
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  4. Hans Richner
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giovanni Martucci.

Additional information

Giovanni Martucci and Renaud Matthey—formerly at Observatory of Neuchâtel, Rue de l’Observatoire 58, CH-2002, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

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Martucci, G., Matthey, R., Mitev, V. et al. Frequency of Boundary-Layer-Top Fluctuations in Convective and Stable Conditions Using Laser Remote Sensing. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 135, 313–331 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-010-9474-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-010-9474-3

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