Abstract
A simple approach to derive the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) top altitude from the CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) radio occultation data is presented. The lowest sampled altitude is assumed to be determined by the top of the PBL. We average CHAMP measurements for the years 2002 and 2003 over 5 degree latitude longitude boxes and compare them to European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) data. The ECMWF PBL top was calculated from the relative humidity gradient with respect to altitude. The altitude where this gradient has its minimum and temperatures are above 273 K is assumed to represent the PBL top. Agreement between the two datasets is good in terms of mean PBL height, especially over sea. The CHAMP data show the major features of PBL height with a realistic transition from stratocumulus regions to shallow and deep cumulus areas. CHAMP also shows a substantial amount of PBL height variability that might proof useful to study PBL dynamics.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Ackerman A, Kirkpatrick M, Stevens D, Toon O (2004) The impact of humidity above stratiform clouds on indirect aerosol climate forcing. Nature 432:1014–1017, DOI 10.1038/nature03174
Beljaars A, Betts A (1992) Validation of the boundary layer representation in the ECMWF model. ECMWF Seminar Proc. Validation of models over Europe, ECMWF, Reading, United Kingdom
Duynkerke P, Jonker P, Chlond A, Zanten MV, Cuxart J, Clark P, Sanchez E, Martin G, Lenderink G, Teixeira J (1999) Intercomparison of three-and one-dimensional model simulations and aircraft observations of stratocumulus. Bound-Layer Meteor 92(3):453–487
von Engeln A, Teixeira J (2004) A ducting climatology derived from ECMWF global analysis fields. J Geophys Res 109(D18):D18104, DOI 10.1029/2003JD004380
von Engeln A, Nedoluha G, Teixeira J (2003) An analysis of the frequency and distribution of ducting events in simulated radio occultation measurements based on ECMWF fields. J Geophys Res 108(D21):4669, DOI 10.1029/2002JD003170
von Engeln A, Teixeira J, Wickert J, Buehler SA (2005) Using champ radio occultation data to determine the top altitude of the planetary boundary layer. Geophys Res Lett 32(6):L06815, DOI 10.1029/2004GL022168
Fetzer E, Teixeira J, Olsen E, Fishbein E (2004) Satellite remote sounding of atmospheric boundary layer temperature inversions over the subtropical eastern pacific. Geophys Res Lett 31(17):L17102, DOI 10.1029/2004GL020174
von Ficker H (1936) Die Passatinversion. Veröffentlichungen Meteor. Institut, Universität Berlin, 33 pp.
Hajj G, Ao C, Iijima B, Kuang D, Kursinski E, Mannucci A, Meehan T, Romans L, de la Torre Juarez M, Yunck T (2004) CHAMP and SAC-C atmospheric occultation results and intercomparisons. J Geophys Res 109:D06109, DOI 10.1029/2003JD003909
Jensen A, Lohmann M, Benzon H, Nielsen A (2003) Full spectrum inversion of radio occultation signals. Radio Sci 38(3):1040, DOI 10.1029/2002RS002763
Ma CC, Mechoso C, Robertson A, Arakawa A (1996) Peruvian stratus clouds and the tropical pacific circulation: a coupled ocean-atmosphere GCM study. J Climate 9(7):1635–1645
Philander S, Gu D, Halpern D, Lambert G, Lau NC, Li T, Pacanowski R (1996) Why the ITCZ is mostly north of the equator. J Climate 9(12):2958–2972
Siebesma A, et al. (2003) A large eddy simulation intercomparison study of shallow cumulus convection. J Atmos Sci 60(10):1201–1219
Siebesma A, et al. (2004) Cloud representation in general circulation models over the northern pacific ocean: A EUROCS intercomparison study. Quart J Roy Meteor Soc 130(604):3245–3267
Sokolovskiy S (2001) Tracking tropospheric radio occultation signals from low Earth orbit. Radio Sci 36(3):483–498
Stevens B, Ackerman A, Albrecht B, Brown A, Chlond A, Cuxart J, Duynkerke P, Lewellen D, Macvean M, Neggers R, Sanchez E, Siebesma A, Stevens D (2001) Simulations of trade wind cumuli under a strong inversion. J Atmos Sci 58(14):1870–1891
Wickert J, Schmidt T, Beyerle G, König R, Reigber C, Jakowski N (2004) The radio occultation experiment aboard CHAMP: Operational data analysis and validation of vertical atmospheric profiles. J Meteorol Soc Jpn 82(1B):381–395
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
von Engeln, A., Teixeira, J., Wickert, J., Buehler, S.A. (2006). CHAMP Radio Occultation Detection of the Planetary Boundary Layer Top. In: Foelsche, U., Kirchengast, G., Steiner, A. (eds) Atmosphere and Climate. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-34121-8_22
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-34121-8_22
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-34116-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-34121-5
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)