the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
| 13 Apr 2023
Determining the surface mixing layer height of the Arctic atmospheric boundary layer during polar night in cloudless and cloudy conditions
Abstract. This study analyzes turbulent properties in, and the thermodynamic structure of the Arctic atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) during winter and the transition to spring. These processes influence the evolution and longevity of clouds, and impact the surface radiative energy budget in the Arctic. For the measurements we have used an instrumental payload carried by a helium filled tethered balloon. This system was deployed between December 2019 and May 2020 during the yearlong Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition. Vertically highly resolved in situ measurements of profiles of turbulent parameters were obtained reaching from the sea ice up to several hundred meters height. The two typical states of the Arctic ABL were identified: cloudless situations with a shallow and stable ABL, and cloudy conditions maintaining a mixed ABL. We have used profile data to estimate the height of the surface mixing layer. For this purpose, a bulk Richardson number criterion approach was introduced. By deriving a critical bulk Richardson number for wintertime in high latitudes, we have extended the analysis to radiosonde data. Furthermore, we have tested the applicability of the Monin-Obukhov similarity theory to derive surface mixing layer heights based on measured surface fluxes.
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Notice on discussion status
The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.
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Preprint
(3878 KB)
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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.
- Preprint
(3878 KB) - Metadata XML
- BibTeX
- EndNote
- Final revised paper
Journal article(s) based on this preprint
Interactive discussion
Status: closed
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RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-629', Anonymous Referee #1, 08 Jun 2023
This study evaluated various observing methods used to identify the surface mixed layer (SML) height during the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) campaign, using in-situ turbulence measurements from a tethered balloon platform as ground truth for the SML height. The study finds a critical bulk Richardson number (~0.12) that can be extrapolated for use with radiosonde observations. This appears to be one of the main conclusions of the study and is worthy of documentation based on careful analysis by the investigators. However, I found the scientific exploration of cloudless versus cloudy boundary layers to be lacking and feel that the basis for using other methods (particularly Monin-Obukhov similarity theory) was not properly motivated. What can the community use from these conclusions going forward? I think emphasizing the derivation of a critical bulk Richardson number is indeed significant and important. However, I found little value in defining the differences in the SML height for cloudless versus cloudy boundary layers without any type of physical interpretation. Moreover, the manuscript was a little difficult to follow in terms of structure and most importantly in terms of grammatical fluency. Some of the figures (particularly Fig. 11) also seemed to display results/statistics that weren’t entirely relevant and were hard to follow. While I think the scientific merit of the study is there and I commend the investigators for this, there needs to be some significant restructuring and improvements for it be acceptable for publication. I am therefore recommending reconsideration following major revisions.
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AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Elisa Akansu, 05 Sep 2023
The comment was uploaded in the form of a supplement: https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2023/egusphere-2023-629/egusphere-2023-629-AC1-supplement.pdf
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AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Elisa Akansu, 05 Sep 2023
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RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-629', Anonymous Referee #2, 27 Jun 2023
The comment was uploaded in the form of a supplement: https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2023/egusphere-2023-629/egusphere-2023-629-RC2-supplement.pdf
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AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Elisa Akansu, 05 Sep 2023
The comment was uploaded in the form of a supplement: https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2023/egusphere-2023-629/egusphere-2023-629-AC2-supplement.pdf
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AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Elisa Akansu, 05 Sep 2023
Interactive discussion
Status: closed
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RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-629', Anonymous Referee #1, 08 Jun 2023
This study evaluated various observing methods used to identify the surface mixed layer (SML) height during the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) campaign, using in-situ turbulence measurements from a tethered balloon platform as ground truth for the SML height. The study finds a critical bulk Richardson number (~0.12) that can be extrapolated for use with radiosonde observations. This appears to be one of the main conclusions of the study and is worthy of documentation based on careful analysis by the investigators. However, I found the scientific exploration of cloudless versus cloudy boundary layers to be lacking and feel that the basis for using other methods (particularly Monin-Obukhov similarity theory) was not properly motivated. What can the community use from these conclusions going forward? I think emphasizing the derivation of a critical bulk Richardson number is indeed significant and important. However, I found little value in defining the differences in the SML height for cloudless versus cloudy boundary layers without any type of physical interpretation. Moreover, the manuscript was a little difficult to follow in terms of structure and most importantly in terms of grammatical fluency. Some of the figures (particularly Fig. 11) also seemed to display results/statistics that weren’t entirely relevant and were hard to follow. While I think the scientific merit of the study is there and I commend the investigators for this, there needs to be some significant restructuring and improvements for it be acceptable for publication. I am therefore recommending reconsideration following major revisions.
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AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Elisa Akansu, 05 Sep 2023
The comment was uploaded in the form of a supplement: https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2023/egusphere-2023-629/egusphere-2023-629-AC1-supplement.pdf
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AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Elisa Akansu, 05 Sep 2023
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RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-629', Anonymous Referee #2, 27 Jun 2023
The comment was uploaded in the form of a supplement: https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2023/egusphere-2023-629/egusphere-2023-629-RC2-supplement.pdf
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AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Elisa Akansu, 05 Sep 2023
The comment was uploaded in the form of a supplement: https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2023/egusphere-2023-629/egusphere-2023-629-AC2-supplement.pdf
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AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Elisa Akansu, 05 Sep 2023
Peer review completion
Journal article(s) based on this preprint
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Cited
1 citations as recorded by crossref.
Sandro Dahlke
Holger Siebert
Manfred Wendisch
The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.
- Preprint
(3878 KB) - Metadata XML