What is the difference between TCZPBL and PBLH in MERRA-2?

by **GES DISC - ingridgs** » Thu Sep 03, 2026 2:23 pm America/New_York

Answer:
In MERRA-2, the transcom planetary boundary layer height (TCZPBL) is based on Seidel et al. ( 2012), defined where the bulk Richardson number (Ri) exceeds 0.25. Planetary boundary layer height (PBLH) is based on a K threshold. Both methods are discussed in McGrath-Spangler and Molod (2014).

References:
D.J. Seidel, Y. Zhang, A. Beljaars, J.-C. Golaz, A.R. Jacobson, B. Medeiros Climatology of the planetary boundary layer over the continental United States and Europe (2012), J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 117 (2012), p. D17106, doi: 10.1029/2012JD018143

McGrath-Spangler, E. L. and Molod, A.: Comparison of GEOS-5 AGCM planetary boundary layer depths computed with various definitions (2014), Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 6717–6727, doi: 10.5194/acp-14-6717-2014

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