Radio Occultation (RO) missions provide high-resolution bending angle data used to detect the PBLH. These datasets are excellent for global ocean climatology and are available through the UCAR COSMIC Program.
The GLAH08 Level-2 product provides planetary boundary layer and elevated aerosol layer heights derived from satellite lidar. planetary boundary layer height data download
The ERA5 Reanalysis provides hourly estimates of boundary layer height on a global 31 km grid. It is widely considered the most accurate reanalysis product, though it may slightly underestimate daytime heights by roughly 130m compared to radiosondes. The ERA5 Reanalysis provides hourly estimates of boundary
Satellites offer unique vertical profiles of the atmosphere, particularly over oceans where ground stations are scarce. The following guide outlines the primary sources for
The following guide outlines the primary sources for , including satellite, reanalysis, and ground-based datasets. 1. Global Reanalysis Datasets
NASA’s MERRA-2 dataset offers global PBLH data starting from 1980. It defines PBLH based on the total eddy diffusion coefficient of heat, making it highly useful for studying aerosol-cloud interactions.
Reanalysis data provides a continuous, global record of PBLH by blending observations with sophisticated weather models. These are often the "gold standard" for long-term climatological studies.