Study of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Height from radiosonde data over a flat terrain at VBIT - Hyderabad (17.4° N - 78.5° E)

摘要

Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) processes control energy, water and pollutant exchanges between the surface and free atmosphere. Study of ABL structure and dynamics is very important since it greatly influences the local weather and air quality over a region. In this study, ABL characteristics were presented using observations of a high vertical resolution radiosonde over a tropical station situated at Vignana Bharathi Institute of Technology (VBIT), Hyderabad (17.4° N - 78.5° E) a rural area and a comparison is made with an urban area of Begumpet, Hyderabad. An attempt is made to observe the seasonal variation of ABL depth using vertical profiles of virtual potential temperature. The variation of Ventilation coefficient (VC), a factor determining the air pollution potential is also studied using the observed variations in wind speed and ABL depth. ABL height is found to be higher during pre-monsoon followed by monsoon and post-monsoon. Weak convection activity made it to be shallow during winter and Ventilation coefficient is found to be higher during monsoon due to high mean - wind speeds.