Stratospheric temperature measurements by two collocated NDSC lidars during UARS validation campaign

Abstract

The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) mobile lidar system was deployed at the Observatoire de Haute Provence (OHP), during an Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS)/Network for Detection of Stratospheric Change (NDSC) correlative measurement campaign (July-August 1992). The objective of this campaign was twofold: to intercompare two independent lidars and to provide ground-based UARS correlative ozone and temperature validation measurements. This paper, for the first time, presents a coincident temperature intercomparison between two independently operating temperature lidar systems of similar capabilities. Systems and retrieval algorithms have been described and discussed in terms of error sources. The comparison of the two analysis have shown very similar results up to the upper mesosphere. The statistical mean differences of 0.5 K in the stratosphere and about 2 K in the mesosphere suggests insignificant bias throughout except below 35 km, where one of the data sets is contaminated by the volcanic aerosols from the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. Profiles of the rootmean-square (RMS) of the differences are in good agreement with random error estimates, except around 35-40 km where RMS is larger. These measurements can be used as the ground reference for UARS temperature validation. However, the spatial-temporal coincidence between satellite and lidar needs to be carefully considered for meaningful validation.

Long-term trends observed in the middle atmosphere temperatures using ground based LIDARs and satellite borne measurements

“…We utilised the temperature profiles available from 1994 to 2005. A detailed discussion related to the validation of HALOE data can be found in the literature (Russell et al, 1993;Singh et al, 1996;Remsberg et al, 2002). Hervig et al (1996) validated the HALOE temperatures with LIDAR and rocket measurements and they found typically have random differences of ∼ 5 K for altitudes below 65 km.…”

Review of ozone and temperature lidar validations performed within the framework of the Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change

“…During the first OHP inter-comparison (summer 1992), temperature profiles deduced from the GSFC lidar and from the fixed OHP lidar dedicated for temperature were compared by Singh et al 40 Mean differences (Fig. 2), less than 1%, were obtained from 35 to 75 km.…”

Study of thermal structure differences from coordinated lidar observations over Mt. Abu (24.5° N, 72.7° E) and Gadanki (13.5° N, 79.2° E)

“…Latitudinal coverage is from 80°S to 80°N. Detailed procedures for analysis of various atmospheric constituents from HALOE satellite observations and discussions have been reported by various groups (e.g., Russell et al 1993;Singh et al 1996;Randel et al 1998;Remsberg et al 2002aRemsberg et al , 2002b, and reference therein). For the present study, we have selected temperature profiles from the closer passes of satellites (±5°latitude-longitude grid) over both the locations, Mt.…”

“…Baldwin et al (2003) emphatically stated the importance of the stratosphere in deciding terrestrial weather and most importantly the role of the stratosphere in weather forecasting. Temperature is an important physical entity to understand the chemical and dynamical features of this region (Singh et al 1996). A Rayleigh lidar provides vertically well-resolved density and temperature profiles in the middle atmosphere above the altitude of 30 km.…”