Micrometeorology

The atmospheric boundary layer is the region of the atmosphere that is in contact with the Earth's surface and where the exchange of heat, mass (water, pollutants, greenhouse gases) and momentum take place. The atmospheric boundary layer has a very pronounced diurnal cycle that is modulated by the solar radiation incident on the Earth's surface. The transition from the daytime behavior, where soil-atmosphere exchanges are controlled by the action of large convective eddies and the nighttime behavior, where vertical motions are suppressed by the presence of a stable atmospheric stratification, is a topic of high relevance given its implications for evapotranspiration, snowmelt and pollutant dispersion. Thanks to several past studies with collaborators from across the world, we have contributed to the improvement of our knowledge of atmospheric flows during the morning and evening transitions in the atmospheric boundary layer, particularly in mountainous terrain.