Surface Based Remote Sensing Of The Atmospheric Boundary Layer

The book presents a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) research. It focuses on experimental ABL research, while most of the books on ABL discuss it from a theoretical or fluid dynamics point of view. Experimental ABL research has been made so far by surface-based in-situ experimentation (tower measurements up to a few hundred meters, surface energy balance measurements, short aircraft experiments, short experiments with tethered balloons, constant-level balloons, evaluation of radiosonde data). Surface flux measurements are also discussed in the book. Although the surface fluxes are one of the main driving factors for the daily variation of the ABL, an ABL description is only complete if its vertical structure is analyzed and determined. Satellite information is available covering large areas, but it has only limited temporal resolution and lacks sufficient vertical resolution. Therefore, surface-based remote sensing is a large challenge to enlarge the database for ABL studies, as it offers nearly continuous and vertically highly resolved information for specific sites of interest. Considerable progress has been made in the recent years in studying of ground-based remote sensing of the ABL. The book discusses such new subjects as micro-rain radars and the use of ceilometers for ABL profiling, modern small wind lidars for wind energy applications, ABL flux profile measurements, RASS techniques, and mixing-layer height determination.

Improved observations of the atmospheric boundary layer (BL) and its interactions with the ocean, land, and ice surfaces have great potential to advance science on a number of fronts, from improving forecasts of severe storms and air quality to constraining estimates of trace gas emissions and transport. Understanding the BL is a crucial component of model advancements, and increased societal demands for extended weather impact forecasts (from hours to months and beyond) highlight the need to advance Earth system modeling and prediction. New observing technologies and approaches (including in situ and ground-based, airborne, and satellite remote sensing) have the potential to radically increase the density of observations and allow new types of variables to be measured within the BL, which will have broad scientific and societal benefits. In October 2017, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a workshop to explore the future of BL observations and their role in improving modeling and forecasting capabilities. Workshop participants discussed the science and applications drivers for BL observation, emerging technology to improve observation capabilities, and strategies for the future. This publication summarizes presentations and discussions from the workshop.

This volume presents peer-reviewed papers from the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Atmospheric Boundary Layers held in April 2006. The papers are divided into thematic sessions: nature and theory of turbulent boundary layers; boundary-layer flows: modeling and applications to environmental security; nature, theory and modeling of boundary-layer flows; air flows within and above urban and other complex canopies: air-sea-ice interaction.

The journal Boundary-Layer Meteorology was started in 1970 and has become the premier vehicle for the publication of research papers in its field. Dr R.E. Munn served as Editor-in-Chief until recently. The special 25th Anniversary volume, on which this book is based, was compiled from review and other articles solicited and selected as a `Festschrift' to honour Ted Munn's achievement as editor of the journal over that time. Articles by leading contributors to the field include reviews of field studies (Askervein, HEXOS, Cabauw) and their impacts; numerical modelling (large-eddy simulation of the surface layer, frontal structures); analyses and critical discussions (of the von Karman constant, bulk aerodynamic formulations, air-sea interaction, vegetation canopies); and reviews or previews of progress in our understanding of the atmospheric boundary layer, turbulence simulation, Lagrangian descriptions of turbulent diffusion and remote sensing of the boundary layer. The collection provides an excellent perspective on the state of the subject and where it is headed. It should provide fascinating and stimulating reading for researchers and students of boundary-layer meteorology and related areas.

Conceptual Boundary Layer Meteorology: The Air Near Here explains essential boundary layer concepts in a way that is accessible to a wide number of people studying and working in the environmental sciences. It begins with chapters designed to present the language of the boundary layer and the key concepts of mass, momentum exchanges, and the role of turbulence. The book then moves to focusing on specific environments, uses, and problems facing science with respect to the boundary layer. Uses authentic examples to give readers the ability to utilize real world data Covers boundary layer meteorology without requiring knowledge of advanced mathematics Provides a set of tools that can be used by the reader to better understand land-air interactions Provides specific applications for a wide spectrum of environmental systems

This book offers an introduction to the meteorological boundary conditions for power generation from wind – both onshore and offshore, and provides meteorological information for the planning and running of this important renewable energy source. It includes the derivation of wind laws and wind-profile descriptions, especially those above the logarithmic surface layer, and discusses winds over complex terrains and nocturnal low-level jets. This updated and expanded second edition features new chapters devoted to the efficiency of large wind parks and their wakes and to offshore wind energy.