Atmosphere Boundary Layer

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-002319",
  "term": "Atmosphere Boundary Layer",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Same as Boundary Layer - in general, a layer of air adjacent to a bounding surface. Specifically, the term most often refers to the planetary boundary layer, which is the layer within which the effects of friction are significant. For the earth, this layer is considered to be roughly the lowest one or two kilometers of the atmosphere. It is within this layer that temperatures are most strongly affected by daytime insolation and nighttime radiational cooling, and winds are affected by friction with the earth's surface. The effects of friction die out gradually with height, so the \"top\" of this layer cannot be defined exactly.\n\n2. Troposphere can be divided into two parts: a planetary boundary layer, PBL, extending upward from the surface to a height that ranges anywhere from 100 to 3000 m, and above it, the free atmosphere. The boundary layer is directly influenced by the presence of the Earth's surface, responding to such factors as frictional surface drag, solar heating, and evapotranspiration. Each of these factors generates turbulence of various-sized eddies.",
  "abbreviation": "ABL",
  "references": [
    "NOAA National Weather Service Glossary",
    "Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/atmosphere-boundary-layer/"
}