Quantifying the coastal urban surface layer structure using distributed temperature sensing in Helsinki, Finland

The structure of the urban boundary layer, and particularly the surface layer, displays significant complexity, which can be exacerbated by coastal effects for cities located in such regions. Resolving the complexity of the coastal urban boundary layer remains an important question for many applications such as air quality and numerical weather prediction. One of the most promising new techniques for measuring the structure of the surface layer is fibre-optic distributed temperature sensing (DTS), which has the potential to provide new significant insights for boundary layer meteorology by making it possible to study thermal turbulence with high spatial and temporal resolution. We present 14 weeks of profile measurements with a DTS system at an urban site in Helsinki, Finland, during the winter and spring of 2020. We assess the benefits and drawbacks of using DTS measurements to supplement sonic anemometry for longer measurement periods in varying meteorological conditions, including those found difficult for the DTS method in prior studies. Furthermore, we demonstrate the capabilities of the DTS system using two case scenarios: a study of the erosion of a near-ground cold layer during the passage of a warm front, and a comparison of the near-ground thermal structure with and without the presence of a sea-breeze cell during springtime convective boundary layer development. This study demonstrates the utility of DTS measurements in revealing the internal surface layer structure, beyond the predictions of traditional surface layer theories. This knowledge is important for improving surface layer theories and parametrisations, including those used in numerical weather prediction. The study also highlights the drawbacks of DTS measurements, caused by low signal-to-noise ratios in near-neutral atmospheric conditions, especially when such a system would be used to supplement turbulence measurements over longer periods. Overall, this study presents important considerations for planning new studies or ongoing measurements utilising this exciting and relatively new instrumentation.

Automated summary

Understanding the structure of the urban boundary layer is crucial for various applications. The fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing (DTS) technology shows great potential in providing high-resolution data to study thermal turbulence. This study presents 14 weeks of profile measurements using a DTS system in Helsinki, Finland, and evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of using DTS measurements to supplement sonic anemometry. Two case scenarios are demonstrated to showcase the capabilities of the DTS system, highlighting its contribution to revealing the surface layer structure beyond traditional theories.