Contents
Atmospheric boundary layer (ABL)
It is also often called the boundary layer or planetary boundary layer. The ABL refers to the lowest part of the troposphere which covers around 1- to 2-km from the ground surface. As ABL covers the Earth’s surface, its processes have direct effects on human lives. This layer is often turbulent and the turbulence contributes to the exchange of heat and moisture between the surface and atmosphere, including the wind drag. Therefore, the ABL also influences the transport of air pollutants and other elements in the atmosphere.
In our laboratory, we are interested in studying the ABL processes such as the vertical transfer of heat, momentum, and water vapor through turbulence.
Further reading:
Noda, A. T., Nakamura, K., Iwasaki, T., & Satoh, M. (2013). A numerical study of a stratocumulus-topped boundary-layer: Relations of decaying clouds with a stability parameter across inversion. Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan. Ser. II, 91(6), 727-746.
Ultra-high resolution simulations
In our laboratory, we make use of the recent advancements in supercomputing. Numerical simulations are performed on an ultra-high resolution (~100m) to gain a more comprehensive understanding of an atmospheric phenomenon (e.g., tropical cyclones, torrential rainfalls, etc).
Further reading:
Ito, J., Oizumi, T., & Niino, H. (2017). Near-surface coherent structures explored by large eddy simulation of entire tropical cyclones. Scientific reports, 7(1), 1-10.