Boundary Layer Clouds

Abstract

Clouds can fonn at the top of mixed layers. and at the bottom of stable boundary layers. The amount and distribution of short and long-wave radiative flux divergence in the boundary layer are altered by clouds. and these effects are emerging as important aspects of the climate-change problem. In addition. the radiative effects combine with latent heating to modulate BL dynamics. turbulence generation. and evolution. This chapter provides a brief review of cloud thennodynamics. radiative processes. the role of entrainment. and descriptions of fogs. cumulus and stratocumulus clouds.