Long-term observations of the urban mixing-layer height with ceilometers

Urban air quality assessment requires the knowledge of the temporal and spatial structure of the mixing-layer height (MLH), because this variable controls the vertical space for rapid mixing of near-surface pollutants. Because MLH is a consequence of vertical temperature and moisture profiles in the lower atmosphere, remote sensing is a suitable tool to monitor MLH. Two ceilometers, a Vaisala LD40 and a Vaisala CL31, have been run for many months in the German city of Augsburg to observe the vertical aerosol distribution. Wind and temperature profile information have been obtained for the same period from sodar observations. This paper compares the MLH determined from the optical backscatter intensity received by the two ceilometers among each other and with the MLH derived from the acoustic backscatter intensity and the variance of the vertical wind component from sodar measurements.