| Term: | internal boundary layer |
| Definition: |
A layer within the atmosphere bounded below by the surface, and above by a more or less sharp discontinuity in some atmospheric property. Internal boundary layers are associated with the horizontal advection of air across a discontinuity in some property of the surface (e.g., aerodynamic roughness length or surface heat flux) and can be viewed as layers in which the atmosphere is adjusting to new surface properties. See thermal internal boundary layer, mechanical internal boundary layer. |