Atmospheric boundary layer height over a rain-shadow region: An intercomparison of multi-observations and model simulations

The lack of reliable and continuous measurements of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) height poses a significant problem for accurate weather forecasting and examining the intricate dynamics between the ABL and the free troposphere (FT). To address this crucial scientific problem, the present study investigates the ABL height from various simultaneous observations of multi-remote sensing instruments Micropulse lidar (MPL), Ceilometer (CL), Wind profiler radar (WPR) and Radiosonde (RS) and four different PBL schemes (Asymmetrical Convective Model version 2 (ACM2), Yonsei University (YSU), Mellor-Yamada Nakanishi and Nino level 2.5 (MYNN2), and Bougeault–Lacarrere (BouLac) during different sky and surface conditions. The diurnal variation of ABL heights between observation and model differs by ∼230 m. The ACM2 and MYNN2 show better performance (R > 0.85) of ABL height than other numerical schemes. The ABL height from different observations such as CL, WPR, MPL, RS and simulated ACM2 and MYNN2 is about 1098 ± 196 m, 1303 ± 217 m, 1461 ± 391 m, and 1716 ± 639 m, 1808 ± 407 m, and 1585 ± 393 m respectively, during the radiosonde launching time (∼11:00–12:00 IST). The difference in mean ABL height is observed due to their different measurement techniques and tracer identity between observation and model simulations. The study underscores a consistent and abrupt reduction in ABL height between observations (