The Structure and Dynamics of the Stable Boundary Layer during Wi-BLEx

The Winter Boundary Layer Experiment (Wi-BLEx) was designed to investigate the structure and dynamics of the Stable Boundary Layer (SBL) and to determine its contribution to the increasing number of wintertime Arctic Air Pollution events in Fairbanks, Alaska. This article introduces the field experiment and describes the Arctic Boundary Layer structure and winds during the first experimental period in the winter 2008/2009. An analysis of the structure and dynamics of the SBL-inversion (i.e. occurrence and breakup of inversions, multilayered inversions) and its connection with synoptic and small scales dynamics processes (e.g. intermittent drainage flows) is presented. The article summarizes the role of structure of the SBL on the mixing, re-circulating and processing gas and particulate matter as one of the key contributors to Arctic air pollution processes.