PBL height estimation based on lidar depolarisation measurements
(POLARIS)

Bravo-Aranda, Juan Antonio; de-Arruda-Moreira, Gregori; Navas-Guzmán, Francisco; Granados-Muñoz, María José; Guerrero-Rascado, Juan Luís; Pozo‐Vázquez, D.; Arbizu‐Barrena, Clara; Olmo, F.J.; Mallet, Marc; Alados-Arboledas, L.

doi:10.5194/acp-2016-718

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Estimating of the CBLH based on lidar data have received increasing attention over the past decade [Hayden et al, 1997;Flamant et al, 1997;Steyn et al, 1999;Davis et al, 2000;Cohn and Angevine, 2000;Brooks, 2003;Baars et al, 2008;Granados-Muñoz et al, 2012;McGrath-Spangler and Denning, 2012;Lewis et al, 2013;Sawyer and Li, 2013;Pal et al, 2013;Bravo-Aranda et al, 2016]. Lidar returns a profile of backscatter signals from which the CBLH values can be extracted.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of retrieval methods of daytime convective boundary layer height based on lidar data

Yang

et al. 2017

JGR Atmospheres

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The atmospheric boundary layer height is a basic parameter in describing the structure of the lower atmosphere. Because of their high temporal resolution, ground‐based lidar data are widely used to determine the daytime convective boundary layer height (CBLH), but the currently available retrieval methods have their advantages and drawbacks. In this paper, four methods of retrieving the CBLH (i.e., the gradient method, the idealized backscatter method, and two forms of the wavelet covariance transform method) from lidar normalized relative backscatter are evaluated, using two artificial cases (an idealized profile and a case similar to real profile), to test their stability and accuracy. The results show that the gradient method is suitable for high signal‐to‐noise ratio conditions. The idealized backscatter method is less sensitive to the first estimate of the CBLH; however, it is computationally expensive. The results obtained from the two forms of the wavelet covariance transform method are influenced by the selection of the initial input value of the wavelet amplitude. Further sensitivity analysis using real profiles under different orders of magnitude of background counts show that when different initial input values are set, the idealized backscatter method always obtains consistent CBLH. For two wavelet methods, the different CBLH are always obtained with the increase in the wavelet amplitude when noise is significant. Finally, the CBLHs as measured by three lidar‐based methods are evaluated by as measured from L‐band soundings. The boundary layer heights from two instruments coincide with ±200 m in most situations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of retrieval methods of daytime convective boundary layer height based on lidar data

Yang

et al. 2017

JGR Atmospheres

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“…Several methods have been proposed to estimate PBL height, utilizing vertically resolved thermodynamic variables, turbulence-related parameters and concentrations of tracers (Seibert et al, 2000;Emeis et al, 2004). Lidar (Light Detection And Ranging) systems can provide continuous measurements of various atmospheric quantities, including the vertical distribution of atmospheric aerosols from which the PBL height can also be retrieved (Menut et al, 1999;Cohn and Angevine, 50 2000;Brooks 2003;Amiridis et al, 2007;Morille et al, 2007;Baars et al, 2008;Engelmann et al, 2008;Groß et al, 2011;Tsaknakis et al, 2011;Haeffelin et al, 2012;Cimini et al, 2013;Scarino et al, 2013;Summa et al, 2013;Korhonen et al, 2014;Lange et al, 2014;Bravo-Aranda et al, 2016;de Arruda Moreira et al, 2018). Atmospheric aerosols are used as tracers and the PBL top is indicated by a gradient in the range-corrected lidar signal.…”

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confidence: 99%

Planetary Boundary Layer variability over New Delhi, India, during EUCAARI project

Nakoudi¹,

Giannakaki²,

Dandou³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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Abstract. Ground-based lidar measurements were performed at Gual Pahari measurement station, approximately 20 km South of New Delhi, India, from March 2008 to March 2009. The height of the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) was retrieved with a portable Raman lidar system, utilizing the modified Wavelet Covariance Transform (WCT) method. The lidar derived PBL heights were compared to radiosonde data, Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellite observations and two atmospheric models. The results were also analyzed on a seasonal basis. To examine the difficulties of PBL lidar detection under different meteorological and aerosol load conditions we focused on three case studies of PBL diurnal evolution. In the presence of a multiple aerosol layer structure, the WCT method exhibited high efficiency in PBL height determination. Good agreement with the European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) estimations was found (r=0.69 and r=0.74, respectively) for a cumulus convection case. In the aforementioned cases, temperature, relative humidity and potential temperature radiosonde profiles were well compared to the respective WRF profiles. The Bulk Richardson Number scheme, which was applied to radiosonde profile data, was in good agreement with lidar data, especially during daytime (r=0.68). The overall comparison with CALIPSO satellite observations; namely, CALIOP Level 2 Aerosol Layer Product, was very satisfying (r=0.84), with CALIPSO Feature Detection Algorithms slightly overestimating PBL height. Lidar measurements revealed that the maximum PBL height was reached approximately three hours after the solar noon, whilst the daily evolution of the PBL was completed, on average, one hour earlier. The PBL diurnal cycle was also analyzed using ECMWF estimations, which produced a stronger cycle during the winter and pre-monsoon period. The seasonal analysis of lidar PBL heights yielded a less pronounced PBL cycle than the one expected from long term climate records. The lowest mean daytime PBL height (695 m) appeared in winter, while the highest mean daytime PBL height (1326 m) was found in the monsoon season as expected. PBL daily growth rates exhibited also a weak seasonal variability.

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“…There are usually sharp gradients in the aerosol concentration through the entrainment zone at the top of the CBL. This characteristic can be used to retrieve the boundary layer height, and the use of lidar data for boundary layer retrieval has been described sufficiently in the literature [5,16,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of Convective Condensation Level Limiter in Convective Boundary Layer Height Retrieval Based on Lidar Data

Yang

et al. 2017

Atmosphere

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Abstract:Micro pulse lidar is a promising tool for retrieving the convective boundary layer height (CBLH), but its application has been hindered by sharp extinction of the signal in high humidity conditions, e.g., clouds. To remedy this, we developed an effective and simple limiter to obtain more accurate estimates of the CBLH. The limiter is based on the algorithm for the convective condensation level (CCL) and is aimed at limiting the vertical extent of the lidar backscatter profile used in lidar methods to search for the CBLH. Four lidar methods (i.e., the gradient method, the idealized backscatter method, and two forms of the wavelet covariance methods) are used to calculate the CBLH with (or without) the limiter added. Compared to the CBLH calculated by the parcel method from microwave radiometer temperature data, more accurate retrieval of the CBLH is carried out with the limiter applied in four cloudy cases.

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PBL height estimation based on lidar depolarisation measurements (POLARIS)

Cited by 5 publications

References 38 publications

Evaluation of retrieval methods of daytime convective boundary layer height based on lidar data

Evaluation of retrieval methods of daytime convective boundary layer height based on lidar data

Planetary Boundary Layer variability over New Delhi, India, during EUCAARI project

Application of Convective Condensation Level Limiter in Convective Boundary Layer Height Retrieval Based on Lidar Data

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