Mixing Height

Mixing Height

Mixing Height is the height to which the lower atmosphere will undergo mechanical or turbulent mixing, producing a nearly homogeneous air mass.

Mixing height is used to quantify the vertical mixing in the atmosphere. The concept of mixing height is based on the principle that when the atmosphere is heated from below due to solar radiation, it becomes unstable and gives rise to vertical motion and mixing. Mixing height is thus defined as the top of the surface based layer in which vertical mixing is relatively vigorous and the lapse rate is approximately dry adiabatic.