An ensemble method for improving the estimation of planetary boundary layer height from radiosonde data
<p>The planetary boundary layer (PBL) height (PBLH) is an important parameter for weather, climate, and air quality models. Radiosonde is one of the most commonly used instruments for PBLH determination and is generally accepted as a standard for other methods. However, mainstream approaches f...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| Online Access: | https://amt.copernicus.org/articles/16/4289/2023/amt-16-4289-2023.pdf |
| _version_ | 1827804940090736640 |
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| author | X. Chen X. Chen T. Yang Z. Wang F. Wang F. Wang H. Wang H. Wang |
| author_facet | X. Chen X. Chen T. Yang Z. Wang F. Wang F. Wang H. Wang H. Wang |
| author_sort | X. Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>The planetary boundary layer (PBL) height (PBLH) is an important parameter for weather, climate, and air quality models. Radiosonde is one of the most commonly used instruments for PBLH determination and is generally accepted as a standard for other methods. However, mainstream approaches for the estimation of PBLH from radiosonde present some uncertainties and even show disadvantages under some circumstances, and the results need to be visually verified, especially during the transition period of different PBL regimes. To avoid the limitations of individual methods and provide a benchmark estimation of PBLH, we propose an ensemble method based on high-resolution radiosonde data collected in Beijing in 2017. Seven existing methods including four gradient-based methods are combined along with statistical modification. The ensemble method is verified at 08:00, 14:00, and 20:00 Beijing time (BJT <span class="inline-formula">=</span> UTC<span class="inline-formula">+</span>8), respectively. The overestimation of PBLH can be effectively eliminated by setting thresholds for gradient-based methods, and the inconsistency between individual methods can be reduced by clustering. Based on the statistics of a 1-year observational analysis, the effectiveness (<span class="inline-formula"><i>E</i></span>) of the ensemble method reaches up to 62.6 %, an increase of 6.5 %–53.0 % compared to the existing methods. Nevertheless, the ensemble method suffers to some extent from uncertainties caused by the consistent overestimation of PBLH, the profiles with a multi-layer structure, and the intermittent turbulence in the stable boundary layer (SBL). Finally, this method has been applied to characterize the diurnal and seasonal variations of different PBL regimes. Particularly, the average convective boundary layer (CBL) height is found to be the highest in summer, and the SBL is lowest in summer with about 200 m. The average PBLH at the transition stage lies around 1100 m except in winter. These findings imply that the ensemble method is reliable and effective.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T21:17:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0d5f6f56d0fc4c4d822c71555792ba38 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1867-1381 1867-8548 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T21:17:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| spelling | doaj.art-0d5f6f56d0fc4c4d822c71555792ba382023-09-28T12:08:11ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482023-09-01164289430210.5194/amt-16-4289-2023An ensemble method for improving the estimation of planetary boundary layer height from radiosonde dataX. Chen0X. Chen1T. Yang2Z. Wang3F. Wang4F. Wang5H. Wang6H. Wang7State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry (LAPC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry (LAPC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry (LAPC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry (LAPC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, ChinaCollege of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry (LAPC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, ChinaCollege of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China<p>The planetary boundary layer (PBL) height (PBLH) is an important parameter for weather, climate, and air quality models. Radiosonde is one of the most commonly used instruments for PBLH determination and is generally accepted as a standard for other methods. However, mainstream approaches for the estimation of PBLH from radiosonde present some uncertainties and even show disadvantages under some circumstances, and the results need to be visually verified, especially during the transition period of different PBL regimes. To avoid the limitations of individual methods and provide a benchmark estimation of PBLH, we propose an ensemble method based on high-resolution radiosonde data collected in Beijing in 2017. Seven existing methods including four gradient-based methods are combined along with statistical modification. The ensemble method is verified at 08:00, 14:00, and 20:00 Beijing time (BJT <span class="inline-formula">=</span> UTC<span class="inline-formula">+</span>8), respectively. The overestimation of PBLH can be effectively eliminated by setting thresholds for gradient-based methods, and the inconsistency between individual methods can be reduced by clustering. Based on the statistics of a 1-year observational analysis, the effectiveness (<span class="inline-formula"><i>E</i></span>) of the ensemble method reaches up to 62.6 %, an increase of 6.5 %–53.0 % compared to the existing methods. Nevertheless, the ensemble method suffers to some extent from uncertainties caused by the consistent overestimation of PBLH, the profiles with a multi-layer structure, and the intermittent turbulence in the stable boundary layer (SBL). Finally, this method has been applied to characterize the diurnal and seasonal variations of different PBL regimes. Particularly, the average convective boundary layer (CBL) height is found to be the highest in summer, and the SBL is lowest in summer with about 200 m. The average PBLH at the transition stage lies around 1100 m except in winter. These findings imply that the ensemble method is reliable and effective.</p>https://amt.copernicus.org/articles/16/4289/2023/amt-16-4289-2023.pdf |
| spellingShingle | X. Chen X. Chen T. Yang Z. Wang F. Wang F. Wang H. Wang H. Wang An ensemble method for improving the estimation of planetary boundary layer height from radiosonde data Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| title | An ensemble method for improving the estimation of planetary boundary layer height from radiosonde data |
| title_full | An ensemble method for improving the estimation of planetary boundary layer height from radiosonde data |
| title_fullStr | An ensemble method for improving the estimation of planetary boundary layer height from radiosonde data |
| title_full_unstemmed | An ensemble method for improving the estimation of planetary boundary layer height from radiosonde data |
| title_short | An ensemble method for improving the estimation of planetary boundary layer height from radiosonde data |
| title_sort | ensemble method for improving the estimation of planetary boundary layer height from radiosonde data |
| url | https://amt.copernicus.org/articles/16/4289/2023/amt-16-4289-2023.pdf |
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