Evolution of Urban Atmospheric Studies and Technologies over the Past Half-Century (Invited Presentation)

The past half-century has seen a dramatic increase in the scope and sophistication of observing technologies and their use in a variety of urban atmospheric studies, both meteorological and environmental; research and operational.   In spite of these advances, more remains to be done.  With regard to observations, there is a rich history of studies in and around urban areas that quantify the many ways in which urban areas modify ambient atmospheric conditions.  These studies have focused not only on weather, but also on climate and air quality phenomena and processes.  Research campaigns have varied in duration from a few days or weeks to several years.  In this selective historical overview, attention is mainly focused on the evolution of the observational technologies; in addition,  the remaining gaps needed both for research studies and operational application are identified.  In many ways, this evolution parallels the remarkable urban-focused career of Professor Bornstein.