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Investigation of the Planetary Boundary Layer in the Swiss Alps Using Remote Sensing and In Situ Measurements

Ketterer, C. ; Zieger, P. ; Bukowiecki, N. ; Collaud Coen, M. ; Maier, O. ; Ruffieux, D. ; Weingartner, E.

In: Boundary-Layer Meteorology, 2014, vol. 151, no. 2, p. 317-334

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    Titre
    • Investigation of the Planetary Boundary Layer in the Swiss Alps Using Remote Sensing and In Situ Measurements
    Auteur
    • Ketterer, C.. Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232, Villigen, Switzerland
    • Zieger, P.. Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232, Villigen, Switzerland
    • Bukowiecki, N.. Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232, Villigen, Switzerland
    • Collaud Coen, M.. Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, MeteoSwiss, Aerological Station, Ch. de l'Aérologie, 1530, Payerne, Switzerland
    • Maier, O.. Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, MeteoSwiss, Aerological Station, Ch. de l'Aérologie, 1530, Payerne, Switzerland
    • Ruffieux, D.. Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, MeteoSwiss, Aerological Station, Ch. de l'Aérologie, 1530, Payerne, Switzerland
    • Weingartner, E.. Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232, Villigen, Switzerland
    Type de document
    • Postprint
    Langue
    • Anglais
    Publié dans
    • Boundary-Layer Meteorology, 2014, vol. 151, no. 2, p. 317-334. Springer Netherlands
    Autre version électronique
    Identifiant OAI-PMH
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:325764
    Summary
    The development of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) has been studied in a complex terrain using various remote sensing and in situ techniques. The high-altitude research station at Jungfraujoch (3,580m a.s.l.) in the Swiss Alps lies for most of the time in the free troposphere except when it is influenced by the PBL reaching the station, especially during the summer season. A ceilometer and a wind profiler were installed at Kleine Scheidegg, a mountain pass close to Jungfraujoch, located at an altitude of 2,061ma.s.l. Data from the ceilometer were analyzed using two different algorithms, while the signal-to-noise ratio of the wind profiler was studied to compare the retrieved PBL heights. The retrieved values from the ceilometer and wind profiler agreed well during daytime and cloud-free conditions. The results were additionally compared with the PBL height estimated by the numerical weather prediction model COSMO-2, which showed a clear underestimation of the PBL height for most of the cases but occasionally also a slight overestimation especially around noon, when the PBL showed its maximum extent. Air parcels were transported upwards by slope winds towards Jungfraujoch when the PBL was higher than 2,800ma.s.l. during cloud-free cases. This was confirmed by the in situ aerosol measurements at Jungfraujoch with a significant increase in particle number concentration, particle light absorption and scattering coefficients when PBL-influenced air masses reached the station in the afternoon hours. The continuous aerosol in situ measurements at Jungfraujoch were clearly influenced by the local PBL development but also by long-range transport phenomena such as Saharan dust or pollution from the south.