Remote sensing measurements of the atmospheric boundary layer

The atmospheric boundary layer is the region of the atmosphere in direct contact with the ground – this is where air pollution has its greatest impact and where heat and moisture from the Earth’s surface enters the atmosphere. It is a layer characterised by turbulence, where good measurements are required to understand the processes involved. It is becoming increasingly apparent that measurements from the ground, or on towers, are insufficient to constrain models of the boundary layer, and that novel techniques for remote sensing are required. The Centre for Atmospheric Sciences is a leading group in the development and use of active remote sensing – radar and lidar (like radar but using lasers) – se