. Circulation schemes a) CBL and b) NBL. Eddies represents thermal and turbulent flows. The right margin of each image displays the distinct layers comprising the CBL and NBL.

Publicado

2023-12-14

The nocturnal boundary layer of Aburra’s valley, a tropical urban area with complex topography

La capa límite nocturna del valle de Aburrá, un área urbana tropical de topografía compleja

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15446/dyna.v90n229.109353

Palabras clave:

atmospheric stability; nocturnal boundary layer; urban and mountain meteorology (en)
capa límite nocturna; estabilidad atmosférica; meteorología urbana y de montaña (es)

Autores/as

  • Álvaro Ramírez-Cardona Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Medellín, Facultad de Minas, Grupo de Investigación REDAIRE - UNAL, Medellín, Colombia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2887-7763
  • José Fernando Jiménez Mejía Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Medellín, Facultad de Minas, Grupo de Investigación REDAIRE - UNAL, Medellín, Colombia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2109-2373

The atmospheric processes that affect the Nocturnal Boundary Layer (NBL) raise unresolved questions, more critical in the case of urban, tropical, and mountainous areas. This research examines the structure of the NBL in the Aburrá Valley - Colombia, a tropical and urbanized region characterized by complex topography. Here six methods were used to estimate the thickness of the NBL, considering the minimum backscattering gradient method (based on ceilometer data) as a reference. Although all the methods contribute to the understanding of the NBL, it was found that the Critical Richardson Number equal to 0,5 fits the best to the reference method, at least for the year 2017, indicating that the tops of the NBL were below the peaks of the surrounding mountains. These results provide technical arguments to consider in managing urban air quality in Valle de Aburrá and other urban, tropical, and mountain areas

Los procesos atmosféricos que afectan la Capa Límite Nocturna (NBL) plantean interrogantes sin resolver, más críticos en el caso de áreas urbanas, tropicales y montañosas. Esta investigación examina la estructura de la NBL en el Valle de Aburrá - Colombia, una región tropical y urbanizada caracterizada por una topografía compleja. Aquí se utilizaron seis métodos para estimar el espesor de la NBL, considerando como referencia el método del gradiente mínimo de retrodispersión (basado en datos del ceilómetro). Si bien todos los métodos contribuyen a la comprensión de la NBL, se encontró que el Número Crítico de Richardson igual a 0,5 se ajusta mejor al método de referencia, al menos para el año 2017, indicando que los picos de la NBL estaban por debajo de los picos de las montañas circundantes. Estos resultados brindan argumentos técnicos a considerar en la gestión de la calidad del aire urbano en el Valle de Aburrá y otras áreas urbanas, tropicales y de montaña.

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Cómo citar

IEEE

[1]
Álvaro Ramírez-Cardona y J. F. Jiménez Mejía, «The nocturnal boundary layer of Aburra’s valley, a tropical urban area with complex topography», DYNA, vol. 90, n.º 229, pp. 9–18, oct. 2023.

ACM

[1]
Ramírez-Cardona, Álvaro y Jiménez Mejía, J.F. 2023. The nocturnal boundary layer of Aburra’s valley, a tropical urban area with complex topography. DYNA. 90, 229 (oct. 2023), 9–18. DOI:https://doi.org/10.15446/dyna.v90n229.109353.

ACS

(1)
Ramírez-Cardona, Álvaro; Jiménez Mejía, J. F. The nocturnal boundary layer of Aburra’s valley, a tropical urban area with complex topography. DYNA 2023, 90, 9-18.

APA

Ramírez-Cardona, Álvaro & Jiménez Mejía, J. F. (2023). The nocturnal boundary layer of Aburra’s valley, a tropical urban area with complex topography. DYNA, 90(229), 9–18. https://doi.org/10.15446/dyna.v90n229.109353

ABNT

RAMÍREZ-CARDONA, Álvaro; JIMÉNEZ MEJÍA, J. F. The nocturnal boundary layer of Aburra’s valley, a tropical urban area with complex topography. DYNA, [S. l.], v. 90, n. 229, p. 9–18, 2023. DOI: 10.15446/dyna.v90n229.109353. Disponível em: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/dyna/article/view/109353. Acesso em: 25 mar. 2026.

Chicago

Ramírez-Cardona, Álvaro, y José Fernando Jiménez Mejía. 2023. «The nocturnal boundary layer of Aburra’s valley, a tropical urban area with complex topography». DYNA 90 (229):9-18. https://doi.org/10.15446/dyna.v90n229.109353.

Harvard

Ramírez-Cardona, Álvaro y Jiménez Mejía, J. F. (2023) «The nocturnal boundary layer of Aburra’s valley, a tropical urban area with complex topography», DYNA, 90(229), pp. 9–18. doi: 10.15446/dyna.v90n229.109353.

MLA

Ramírez-Cardona, Álvaro, y J. F. Jiménez Mejía. «The nocturnal boundary layer of Aburra’s valley, a tropical urban area with complex topography». DYNA, vol. 90, n.º 229, octubre de 2023, pp. 9-18, doi:10.15446/dyna.v90n229.109353.

Turabian

Ramírez-Cardona, Álvaro, y José Fernando Jiménez Mejía. «The nocturnal boundary layer of Aburra’s valley, a tropical urban area with complex topography». DYNA 90, no. 229 (octubre 24, 2023): 9–18. Accedido marzo 25, 2026. https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/dyna/article/view/109353.

Vancouver

1.
Ramírez-Cardona Álvaro, Jiménez Mejía JF. The nocturnal boundary layer of Aburra’s valley, a tropical urban area with complex topography. DYNA [Internet]. 24 de octubre de 2023 [citado 25 de marzo de 2026];90(229):9-18. Disponible en: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/dyna/article/view/109353

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1. G. Alexis Ayala-Parra, K. Santiago Hernández, Camilo A. Chalán, Mauricio Ramírez, Manuel D. Zuluaga, Lina I. Ceballos, J. Alejandro Martínez. (2026). Regional aerosol transport and vertical mixing: factors contributing to an air pollution event in a highly urbanized Andean valley. Atmospheric Research, 329, p.108512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108512.

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