Lidar algorithms in 3D scanning for atmospheric layering and planetary boundary layer height retrieval: comparison with other techniques

Set of Algorithms and Techniques for Accurate 3D, Single Beam – Single Pointing, Lidar Measurements for Slant Range Visibility, Planetary Boundary Layer Height and Wind Speed Retrieval, Atmospheric Layers Spatial Distribution and Categorization in Real Time

“…178, 179) the algorithm acquires usually the upper limit of that atmospheric layer, as retrieved PBLH. In this effort, certain thresholds of first and second derivatives of a new kind of 'mathematical tools' (notional conditions) for processing used for VASPAT or MUSTI algorithms, VERDE or DECIS [2] and METCON PBLH [3] (Fig. 2, Middle) and succeeded a great efficiency in more than 94% of correct PBLH retrieval in more than 30 cases studied and compared with nearby radiosonde measurements, available by the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS) at the same date and time [3] (Fig.…”

“…3. PBLH retrieval with the single pointing EOLE NTUA lidar after the application of [2,3] algorithms processing with appropriate settings (black squares), compared with HNMS radiosonde data (red cycles) at the same date and time over Athens, between the years of 2014 to 2016, showing an agreement inside 35m in all these cases. Fig.…”

“…Following the work of [1,2,3] and Eqs 1-6 in these references, which also apply for this work, backscattering lidar signal received power (P(λ,R)), Range-squared Corrected lidar Signal (RCS), P΄(λ,R) which is the received power after atmospheric and electronic noise BackGround (BG) correction and processing of lidar atmospheric coefficients like, aerosol extinction coefficient α aer (λ,R) and aerosol backscattering coefficient β aer (λ,R), were used in order to produce a full set of algorithms and techniques for 3D lidar measurements. The original development of the algorithms used the above mentioned variables and Eqs 1-6, produced with Klett technique [4,5], but they are also applicable using other retrieval techniques, like the Raman one [6].…”

“…The vertical, near vertical or even slant measurements that can achieve molecular values of β aer (λ,R) (and/or α aer (λ,R)), at a molecular height above the PBLH and at any wavelength, taken from [1,2,3,7], ([8] p. 57, 58), which are recorded using the backscattering signal, are able to provide a clear view of the aerosol load located along the Line Of Sight (LOS) of the lidar beam. This aerosol load recorded as elastic backscattering signal (Eqs 1-6 already mentioned and Eqs 7-9 below), was used by these algorithms in order to have successive outcomes of processing.…”