A New Algorithm of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Height Determined from Polarization Lidar

Abstract

Accurately determining the atmospheric boundary layer height (ABLH) is needed when one is addressing the air quality-related issues in highly urbanized areas, as well as when one is investigating issues that are related to the emission and transport of dust aerosols over the source region. In this study, we propose a new ABLH retrieval method, which is named ADEILP (ABLH that is determined by polarization lidar); it is based on the short-term polarized lidar observation that took place during the intensive field campaign in July 2021 in Tazhong, the hinterland of Taklimakan Desert. Furthermore, we conducted comparisons between the ABLH that was identified using a radiosonde (ABLHsonde), the ABLH that was identified by ERA5 (ABLHERA5) and the ABHL that was identified by ADELIP (ABLHADELIP), and we discussed the implications of the dust events. The ADELIP method boasts remarkable advancements in two parts: (1) the lidar volume linear depolarization ratio (VLDR) that represented the aerosol type was adopted, which is very effective in distinguishing between the different types of boundary layers (e.g., mixing layer and residual layer); (2) the idea of breaking up the entire layer into sub-layers was applied on the basis of the continues wavelet transform (CWT) method, which is favorable when one is considering the effect of fine stratification in an aerosol layer. By combining the appropriate height limitations, these factors ensured that there was good robustness of the ADELIP method, thereby enabling it to deal with complex boundary layer structures. The comparisons revealed that ABLHADELIP shows good consistency with ABLHsonde and ABLHERA5 for non-dust events. Nevertheless, the ADELIP method overestimated the stable boundary layer and underestimated the heights of the mixing layer. The dust events seem to be a possible reason for the great difference between ABLHERA5 and ABLHsonde. Thus, it is worth suggesting that the influence that is caused by the differences of the vertical profile in the ERA5 product should be carefully considered when the issues on dust events are involved. Overall, these findings support the climatological analysis of the atmosphere boundary layer and the vertical distribution characteristics of aerosols over typical climatic zones.

Investigation of the Vertical Distribution Characteristics and Microphysical Properties of Summer Mineral Dust Masses over the Taklimakan Desert Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

“…A possible reason is associated with the particle emission mechanism being closely related to WS over dust source areas, unlike the emissions in urban areas. The maximum atmosphere boundary layer height (ABLH) in TZ occurred at approximately 16:00 h in the day [51,52]. This strong thermal mixing within the atmosphere boundary layer (ABL) uplifted the near-surface particles to higher altitudes, resulting in a decrease in the mass concentration and PNC near the surface.…”

Analysis of Height of the Stable Boundary Layer in Summer and Its Influencing Factors in the Taklamakan Desert Hinterland

“…Zhang et al [38] used the meteorological data of five stations around the TD to find that sand and dust aerosols promote the development of the SBLH by adjusting the surface and atmospheric radiation budget. Han et al [39] proposed a new boundary layer height calculation method using polarized lidar to estimate the SBLH of the TD, and they found that the SBLH was overestimated and the height of the hybrid layer was underestimated. Studies have deepened our understanding of the structure and characteristics of the SBL in the desert hinterland, but the mechanism through which the SBLH forms in the TD hinterland is still poorly understood.…”