Toward evaluation of heat fluxes in the convective boundary layer

Abstract

This article demonstrates that vertical profiles of the heat flux in the convective boundary layer can be diagnosed through an integration over height of the time change rates of observed potential temperature profiles. Moreover, the basic characteristics of the convective boundary layer, such as the mixed-layer height zi, the depth of the interfacial (entrianment) layer, and the heat flux zero-crossing height h0 can be uniquely evaluated based on a time evolution of potential temperature profiles in the lower atmosphere. -Author