DIAGNOSTICS OF THE DIURNAL AND NOCTURNAL PLANETARY BOUNDARY LAYER HEIGHT IN NATAL CITY, RIO GRANDE DO NORTE STATE

This study aims to estimate the PBL height and to investigate characteristics of its development by means of atmospheric sounding data obtained at 00 UTC and 12 UTC in a rainy month in the city of Natal-RN. The PBL height is estimated by applying the methods of the vertical profiles of potential temperature and mixing ratio, for daytime and nighttime. It was possible to estimate the PBL height for almost all soundings, by both methods in their majority. The mean PBL height is lower in nighttime. The lowest (highest) height estimated for the PBL top is 563m (2847m). The PBL height is, in general, lower in the first half of the month of study, May 2013.