The deep atmospheric boundary layer and its significance to the stratosphere and troposphere exchange over the Tibetan Plateau

PLoS One. 2013;8(2):e56909. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056909. Epub 2013 Feb 25.

Abstract

In this study the depth of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) over the Tibetan Plateau was measured during a regional radiosonde observation campaign in 2008 and found to be deeper than indicated by previously measurements. Results indicate that during fair weather conditions on winter days, the top of the mixed layers can be up to 5 km above the ground (9.4 km above sea level). Measurements also show that the depth of the ABL is quite distinct for three different periods (winter, monsoon-onset, and monsoon seasons). Turbulence at the top of a deep mixing layer can rise up to the upper troposphere. As a consequence, as confirmed by trajectory analysis, interaction occurs between deep ABLs and the low tropopause during winter over the Tibetan Plateau.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Atmosphere*
  • Tibet

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Chinese National Key Programme for Developing Basic Sciences (2010CB951701), and the Chinese National Natural Science Foundation (40825015 and 40810059006). Xuelong Chen acknowledges the support of KNAW. The authors thank all the participants from China and Japan for their work during the JICA Tibetan Plateau meteorological observations. Laura de la Torre was partially supported by the European Regional Development Fund. The funders played no part in study design, data collection and analysis, the decision to publish, or the preparation of the manuscript. No additional external funding was received for this study.