The Characteristics of Spatial and Temporal Variations in the PBL during the Landfall of Tropical Cyclones across East China

Abstract

AbstractThe planetary boundary layer (PBL) controls the exchange of momentum and energy between the ground surface and the free troposphere, but few studies have been involved in the connection of the PBL with the development and extinction of tropical cyclones (TCs). Studies on the PBL usually need high-resolution soundings in the lowest troposphere that are otherwise quite rare with traditional technology. Here, 1-s resolution L-band radiosonde data are acquired to study the variations in PBL characteristics associated with the development of TCs in eastern China. The strong variations in the vertical profiles of temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed in the PBL during the landfall of a TC are revealed. In addition, four typical methods, including the virtual potential temperature method, Holzworth method, bulk Richardson number method, and potential temperature gradient method, are applied to estimate the PBL height (PBLH). The results indicate that the PBLHs derived by these methods vary by several hundred meters, which may be related to their different definitions of kinetic or thermodynamic theories. Furthermore, the PBLH was found to display a slight upward tendency during the landfall of TC.