Annual Climatology of Planetary Boundary Layer Height from GPS Radio Occultation

Six satellites from the COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3 constellation, launched in 2006, provide this annual average climatology of planetary boundary layer height. The dataset is derived from GPS radio occultation measurements, using an algorithm that identifies the height of minimum vertical refractivity gradient. Produced by the GES DISC, this collection represents the latest version as of its last update in 2019.

Use Cases

• Validate climate model simulations of planetary boundary layer depth using the annual average climatology.
• Analyze spatial patterns of boundary layer height derived from the refractivity gradient minimum.
• Study long-term changes in atmospheric stability by comparing annual climatologies across different years.
• Correlate boundary layer height estimates with other atmospheric variables from co-located satellite data.

Strengths

• Data sourced from a six-satellite constellation enabling global coverage across different local times.
• Algorithm designed to track GPS signals through the lower troposphere, which is essential for high-quality PBL estimation at low latitudes.
• Represents the latest version of this collection, superseding previous iterations.

Limitations

• Data recency is limited, with the last update recorded at the end of 2019.
• Specific sample size, row count, and spatial/temporal resolution details are not provided in the input.

Provenance

Source

GES_DISC, utilizing data from COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3, TerraSAR-X, KOMPSAT-5, and PAZ satellite missions.

Collection Method

Derived from GPS radio occultation measurements, with PBL height calculated as the height where the vertical gradient of refractivity (dN/dz) is minimum.

Time Range

Annual averages; specific year(s) covered are not detailed in the input.

Freshness

Annual product; last updated 2019-12-31.

Geography

Globally distributed measurements from a satellite constellation.