The planetary boundary layer (PBL) is at the heart of fundamental atmospheric science challenges: (i) cloud–climate feedback (how clouds will respond and impact climate with increased greenhouse gas concentration) is essentially about the interactions between a highly turbulent flow with water phase transitions and radiation, often occurring in the PBL; (ii) the extreme weather and climate change problem is essentially about how deep moist convection, with its roots in the PBL, will respond to a warmer world; (iii) the exchanges of energy, water, and carbon between the atmosphere, ocean, land, and ice are mediated by turbulent fluxes in the PBL; (iv) the depth and mixing of PBL air significantly influences air quality and human health.
Weather forecasts are routinely produced by numerical weather prediction (NWP) centers around the world. The PBL plays a critical role in key weather events. The recent NASA Weather Focus Area community workshop report highlights the importance of the PBL for weather and some key unsolved questions. For example, how does moist convection interact with the PBL and the surface? What are the fundamental mechanisms controlling ABL clouds?
The recent National Academies’ Earth Science Decadal Survey recommended the PBL as a targeted observable priority for incubation studies of future satellite observations. At this stage it is critical for the PBL science community to present and discuss the most recent technology and science developments in the context of space-based observations of the PBL. In this session we welcome presentations on studies that utilize space-based observations of the PBL in the context of weather, air quality and climate. Presentations on future PBL observational systems from space, including ground/air-based developments that could be relevant to future mission concepts, are also welcome.
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