Statistically Resolved Planetary Boundary Layer Height Diurnal Variability Using Spaceborne Lidar Data

Journal Article · Mon Sep 02 04:00:00 EDT 2024 · Remote Sensing

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16173252· OSTI ID:2439335

Roldán-Henao, Natalia; Yorks, John E.; Su, Tianning; Selmer, Patrick A.; Li, Zhanqing

The Planetary Boundary Layer Height (PBLH) significantly impacts weather, climate, and air quality. Understanding the global diurnal variation of the PBLH is particularly challenging due to the necessity of extensive observations and suitable retrieval algorithms that can adapt to diverse thermodynamic and dynamic conditions. This study utilized data from the Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) to analyze the diurnal variation of PBLH in both continental and marine regions. By leveraging CATS data and a modified version of the Different Thermo-Dynamics Stability (DTDS) algorithm, along with machine learning denoising, the study determined the diurnal variation of the PBLH in continental mid-latitude and marine regions. The CATS DTDS-PBLH closely matches ground-based lidar and radiosonde measurements at the continental sites, with correlation coefficients above 0.6 and well-aligned diurnal variability, although slightly overestimated at nighttime. In contrast, PBLH at the marine site was consistently overestimated due to the viewing geometry of CATS and complex cloud structures. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating meteorological data with lidar signals for accurate and robust PBLH estimations, which are essential for effective boundary layer assessment from satellite observations.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0022919; AC52-07NA27344
• OSTI ID: 2439335
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 2467609
• Journal Information: Remote Sensing, Journal Name: Remote Sensing Journal Issue: 17 Vol. 16; ISSN RSBSBZ; ISSN 2072-4292
• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Country of Publication: Switzerland
• Language: English