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Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open
Journal article
Boundary layer height above the Great Barrier Reef studied using drone and Mini-Micropulse LiDAR measurements
Journal of Southern Hemisphere earth systems science, Vol.74(3), ES24008
10/10/2024
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Abstract
The planetary boundary layer height (PBLH) is an important meteorological feature defining the boundary between surface processes and the free troposphere. The PBLH plays a key role in cloud formation and the vertical extent of aerosols and air pollutants. Measurements of PBLH were made by meteorological sensors mounted to a multi-copter drone over the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. We then compared these drone-based measurements to remote-sensed PBLH observations, using a Mini-Micropulse (MP) LiDAR system. Across the measurement campaign (1 March–2 April 2023), the mean PBLH value using the drones was 801 ± 203 m. Using the gradient method for MP LiDAR normalised relative backscatter profiles, the mean PBLH was 811 ± 260 m. Using an ideal MP LiDAR profile fitting method the mean was 912 ± 202 m and using a wavelet covariance transform method the mean was 862 ± 298 m. The boundary layer was consistently well mixed, without convective instability or a strong diurnal PBLH cycle. The three MP LiDAR methods compared well to the drone measurements overall with Pearson’s R correlation coefficients >0.60; however, estimates from the MP LiDAR were typically ~10% higher than from the drone. These results indicate congruence between the backscatter- and thermodynamically derived PBLH at One Tree Island, which is robust to variations in sampling conditions and the choice of MP LiDAR PBLH retrieval method.
Details
- Title
- Boundary layer height above the Great Barrier Reef studied using drone and Mini-Micropulse LiDAR measurements
- Creators
- Robert G. Ryan - University of MelbourneChristian Eckert - Southern Cross University, National Marine Science CentreBrendan P. Kelaher - Southern Cross University, National Marine Science CentreDaniel P. Harrison - Southern Cross University, National Marine Science CentreRobyn Schofield - The University of Melbourne
- Contributors
- Peter May (Editor)
- Publication Details
- Journal of Southern Hemisphere earth systems science, Vol.74(3), ES24008
- Publisher
- CSIRO Publishing; CLAYTON SOUTH
- Grant note
- This work was funded by the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program: Cooling and Shading Subprogram. The Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program is funded by the partnership between the Australian Governments Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
- Identifiers
- 991013225780502368
- Copyright
- © 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)).
- Academic Unit
- National Marine Science Centre; Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article