Advancing boundary-layer physics via Doppler wind LiDAR dynamic-thermodynamic profiling

Abstract

Simultaneous, high-resolution measurements of boundary-layer dynamics and thermodynamics remain a longstanding observational challenge. We present a Doppler wind LiDAR–based retrieval that derives virtual potential temperature from TKE-budget buoyancy residuals, enabling concurrent profiling of wind, turbulence, and thermal structure. Field applications in Shenzhen and Beijing demonstrate that the method resolves stable, convective, and low-level-jet layers, capturing turbulence–stability interactions with sub-kelvin accuracy. These findings establish that conventional wind LiDAR can be transformed into a continuous, high-resolution dynamic–thermodynamic profiler for detailed investigation of boundary-layer processes.