Chapter 1 Flashcards
1
Q
Layers in the atmosphere
A
- Surface layer 50m
- Atmospheric boundary layer 1 km
- Troposphere 10 km
2
Q
Planetary boundary layer definition
A
the lowest part of the atmosphere that is in contact with the surface of the earth
3
Q
PBL is a region where earth’s surface strongly influence:
A
- temperature
- moisture
- wind
4
Q
Importance of PBL
A
PBL plays an important role in many fields:
- air pollution
- agro. met
- hydrolody
- aviation
- ….
5
Q
Free atmosphere:
A
the remaining air through the atmosphere above the PBL
6
Q
energy in FA is ……………………. through ………………..
A
dissipated through the PBL
friction and turbulence
7
Q
properties:
A
- friction
- turbulence
- thickness
- mixing
8
Q
friction in PBL and FA
A
PBL:
- significant drag
- energy dissipation (due to friction)
FA:
- Insignificant drag
- little to no energy dissipation
9
Q
Turbulence in PBL and FA
A
PBL:
- continuous turbulences throughout the layer
FA:
- turbulence only in convective clouds and in thunderstorms
10
Q
thickness in PBL and FA
A
PBL:
- between 100 and 3000 m
- diurinal variation
FA:
- between 3 and 18 km
- little variation
11
Q
Mixing in PBL and FA
A
PBL:
- Rapid mixing in vertical and horizontal
FA:
- rapid horizontal mixing
12
Q
PBL can be subdevided into:
A
- surface
- mixed layer (convective mixing layer)
- stable layer
- residual layer
13
Q
PBL depends on:
A
- temperature
- structure
14
Q
PBL structure varies with:
A
- season
- higher in summer
- time of day
- higher in daytime
- weather conditions
- higher in instability (1000’s of meters)
- lower in stability (10’s of meters)
15
Q
Surface layer:
A
- closest to the earth’s surface
- turbulent stresses are relatively constant
- height of surface layer is 10% of PBL height
- varies from 20 to 200m
- exchange of
- heat
- momentum
- water
- airpollutants
by turbulent fluxes between surface and atmosphere