PBLH devt5: Investigate possibility of redefining PBLH in regions of surface inversions

[Ian Culverwell]

The ROPP9.0 beta reviewer suggests

Might be worthy of developing PBLH algorithm to detect the 
temperature inversion top height as the PBLH in the presence of 
surface inversion. It could be useful for model temperature and 
humidity profiles, which however, could be challenge to apply on RO 
sounding profiles due to the limited vertical resolution and the 
restricted deep penetration capability.

Defining PBLH as the location of dT/dz=0 (rather than the maximum dT/dz) in the presence of a surface inversion is probably a step too far at this stage. Effort would probably be best invested in resolving the difference between TAMU-CC and ROPP PBLH diagnostics in regions, like the polar land masses, which are frequently shrouded by surface inversions (see #476). We might note, however, that the PBLH diagnostics in ROPP have been designed to be flexible enough to allow this sort of generalisation. Indeed, one could in principle apply different PBLH algorithms for different fields in different regions (at different times of the day, or year, or surface heights, ...).

[Ian Culverwell]

This should probably be mooted for ROPP10.0, along with the other PBLH devt tickets.