Boundary Layer Depth, Structure and Evolution over Land

Over land in the vicinity of a high pressure area, the boundary layer is often very well defined and evolves with the diurnal cycle:

There are different sub layers within the boundary layer.  The main layers are the:

  • surface layer

  • convective mixed layer

  • residual layer

  • stable (nocturnal) boundary layer

 

It is also common to find:

  • cloud layers

  • entrainment zone

  • capping inversion

 

So, what is the structure and importance of all these layers????