ASSIGNMENT 1: Boundary Layer Meteorology & Atmospheric Pollution

P –LEVEL (mb) NIGHT (oC) DAY

1000 14.0 40.0
970 13.5 34.4
950 12.8 32.0
920 9.1 27.3
900 8.4 24.4
880 6.9 22.5
870 6.8 21.5
850 5.3 19.6
822 4.0 16.8
815 3.8 16.1
800 2.5 14.6
790 1.8 13.5
770 2.5 11.4
755 1.5 9.8
740 0.2 8.2
725 -1.4 6.6
700 -3.0 5.1

← * Using the data above:

1. Compute ϴ (i.e. Potential temperature).
2. Plot P (vertical axis) against ϴ (horizontal axis) for both day and night in the
same diagram.
3. Determine the mixed layer
4. Determine the surface layer CBL
5. Establish the PBL depths
6. State the limitation of your estimates

SOLUTIONS
 1. Calculated in excel, the results are as follows:

P- POTENTIAL POTENTIAL
TEMPERATURE TEMPERATURE
LEVELS NIGHT DAY TEMPERATURE TEMPERATURE
NIGHT (T) DAY (T)
(mb) NIGHT (ϴ) DAY (ϴ)
1000 14.0 40.0 287.0 313.0 287 313
970 13.5 34.4 286.5 307.4 289 310
950 12.8 32.0 285.8 305.0 290 309
920 9.1 27.3 282.1 300.3 288 307
900 8.4 24.4 281.4 297.4 289 306
880 6.9 22.5 279.9 295.5 290 306
870 6.8 21.5 279.8 294.5 290 306
850 5.3 19.6 278.3 292.6 291 306
822 4.0 16.8 277.0 289.8 292 305
815 3.8 16.1 276.8 289.1 292 305
800 2.5 14.6 275.5 287.6 292 305
790 1.8 13.5 274.8 286.5 293 305
770 2.5 11.4 275.5 284.4 295 305
755 1.5 9.8 274.5 282.8 296 305
740 0.2 8.2 273.2 281.2 296 305
725 -1.4 6.6 271.6 279.6 296 305
700 -3.0 5.1 270.0 278.1 297 306

2. The graph is represented below:

3. Answers to the remaining questions

 The mixed layer is between 725mb – 900mb.

 Surface layer 700 1000mb

X=300mb
Since, 1000mb = 1m
300mb = 3m
Therefore, the PBL = 3m

 Limitation of the estimates:

I. The night chart is very complex as compare to the day graph,

thereby making it difficult to analyze.