<p>Not exactly. The PBL is a quantity more or less derived. you may be able to derive it from upper air observations, but a direct observation of it is not yet available. Here are some methods: <a href="https://e-reports-ext.llnl.gov/pdf/235179.pdf">https://e-reports-ext.llnl.gov/pdf/235179.pdf</a></p>

<p>The question you are asking is the equivalent of "Can we observe the Jet stream?" We cannot observe the jet stream, but we can observe the winds, from which we infer the jet stream.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-04T14:23:12.433Z
2016-04-04T14:23:12.433Z
BarocliniCplusplus
<p>The PBL depth is not easy to observe. It is the layer where the atmosphere is turbulent due to friction at the surface and convection. During daytime this leads to well-mixed potential temperature and specific humidity profiles and you can estimate where the well-mixed area ends. This, however, is complex, because you need accurate measurements of that. Even in radio-soundings it is hard to find the top of the PBL.</p>

<p>With more advanced equipment, as a ceilometer, you can use backscatter profiles, but these are more local measurements.</p>

<p>In short, a world wide set does not exist and probably (re)analysis data is the best you can get.</p>

<p>An interesting analysis can be found here:</p>

<p><a href="http://kiwi.atmos.colostate.edu/pubs/Ahlgrimm-Randall.2006.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://kiwi.atmos.colostate.edu/pubs/Ahlgrimm-Randall.2006.pdf</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-06T08:10:32.483Z
http://kiwi.atmos.colostate.edu/pubs/Ahlgrimm-Randall.2006.pdf
Chiel
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-06T06:12:37.087Z
2016-04-06T08:20:35.227Z
2016-04-06T08:20:35.227Z
Chiel
<p>PBL is one key physical quantities aimed at analysing the condition of air pollution in an area of interest.<br>
From WRF simulation, I can get the variable <strong><code>PBLH</code></strong> whixh represents the PBL height.<br>
But, is there any free data source offering the <strong><code>observing PBL height</code></strong> all over the World?  </p>

<p>For now, I can get the weather data from the NOAA weather center. The data based on observations at airports doesn't conclude the quantitative information of PBL.   </p>

<p>Any recommendation would be appreciate! </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-04T03:24:54.883Z
@gansub.Thanks for your reply. In `WRF`, there was a variable represent the height of PBL. Sometimes, I was thinking to analysis the trends of inversion zone in an area of interest based on the `reality data`. But I could find any useful data source to get the information about PBL or height of 850 hPa now. Could you have some recommendation?
Han Zhengzu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-05T19:48:24.323Z
@gansub. I wish I could downvote your comment. These are in no way related.
Chiel
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-06T09:07:25.183Z
Thanks for your reply. From [this book](https://books.google.com.hk/books?id=r6GmCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA74&lpg=PA74&dq=NCEP+fnl+PBL+data&source=bl&ots=e8sjfZtoy0&sig=OOW4CtG8rG5Ugh3Tjva5sk5oW-g&hl=zh-CN&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjMwvbb0_nLAhWDjpQKHUSgC1wQ6AEINDAD#v=onepage&q=NCEP%20fnl%20PBL%20data&f=false) printed on 2016. It says "The WRF model was used to refine the state of atmosphere especially the PBL, by downscaling the FNL and ECMWF data".
Han Zhengzu
<meteorology><atmosphere><atmosphere-modelling>
Data source of the planetary boundary layer (PBL)
Han Zhengzu
# Data source of the planetary boundary layer (PBL)

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-04-02)

PBL is one key physical quantities aimed at analysing the condition of air pollution in an area of interest.  
From WRF simulation, I can get the variable **`PBLH`** whixh represents the PBL height.  
But, is there any free data source offering the **`observing PBL height`** all over the World?

For now, I can get the weather data from the NOAA weather center. The data based on observations at airports doesn't conclude the quantitative information of PBL.

Any recommendation would be appreciate!

**Tags:** meteorology, atmosphere, atmosphere-modelling

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: @gansub.Thanks for your reply. In `WRF`, there was a variable represent the height of PBL. Sometimes, I was thinking to analysis the trends of inversion zone in an area of interest based on the `reality data`. But I could find any useful data source to get the information about PBL or height of 850 hPa now. Could you have some recommendation?  
> **username_1**: @gansub. I wish I could downvote your comment. These are in no way related.  
> **username_0**: Thanks for your reply. From [this book](https://books.google.com.hk/books?id=r6GmCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA74&lpg=PA74&dq=NCEP+fnl+PBL+data&source=bl&ots=e8sjfZtoy0&sig=OOW4CtG8rG5Ugh3Tjva5sk5oW-g&hl=zh-CN&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjMwvbb0_nLAhWDjpQKHUSgC1wQ6AEINDAD#v=onepage&q=NCEP%20fnl%20PBL%20data&f=false) printed on 2016. It says "The WRF model was used to refine the state of atmosphere especially the PBL, by downscaling the FNL and ECMWF data".  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-04-04. Score: 5

Not exactly. The PBL is a quantity more or less derived. you may be able to derive it from upper air observations, but a direct observation of it is not yet available. Here are some methods: <https://e-reports-ext.llnl.gov/pdf/235179.pdf>

The question you are asking is the equivalent of "Can we observe the Jet stream?" We cannot observe the jet stream, but we can observe the winds, from which we infer the jet stream.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2016-04-06. Score: 4

The PBL depth is not easy to observe. It is the layer where the atmosphere is turbulent due to friction at the surface and convection. During daytime this leads to well-mixed potential temperature and specific humidity profiles and you can estimate where the well-mixed area ends. This, however, is complex, because you need accurate measurements of that. Even in radio-soundings it is hard to find the top of the PBL.

With more advanced equipment, as a ceilometer, you can use backscatter profiles, but these are more local measurements.

In short, a world wide set does not exist and probably (re)analysis data is the best you can get.

An interesting analysis can be found here:

<http://kiwi.atmos.colostate.edu/pubs/Ahlgrimm-Randall.2006.pdf>

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: http://kiwi.atmos.colostate.edu/pubs/Ahlgrimm-Randall.2006.pdf  

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