authority: gcos
slug: boundary-layer-height
name: Planetary Boundary Layer Height
domain: atmosphere
subdomain: surface
authority_id: gcos:atmosphere-upper-air
external_ids:
  nvs_uri: null
  cf_standard_name: atmosphere_boundary_layer_thickness
  iadopt_concepts:
    property: height
    entity: planetary-boundary-layer
canonical_units: m
gcos_requirement_tier:
  threshold: null
  breakthrough: null
  goal: null
description: |
  Height of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) above the surface — the layer
  of the troposphere directly influenced by surface friction, heating, and
  evaporation. PBL height bounds vertical mixing of pollutants and moisture:
  a shallow PBL traps aerosols and smoke (winter inversions, nocturnal stable
  layers); a deep PBL ventilates them. NOAA HRRR diagnoses HPBL hourly at 3 km
  via a hybrid TKE / Richardson-number scheme.
theme: atmosphere
demos: []
status: documented
sources:
  - https://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Planetary_boundary_layer
  - https://rapidrefresh.noaa.gov/hrrr/