Identification of cloud phase from PICASSO-CENA lidar depolarization: a multiple scattering sensitivity study

A fast Monte Carlo simulation scheme is developed to assess the impact of multiple scattering on space-based lidar backscattering depolarization measurements. The specific application of our methodology is to determine cloud thermodynamic phase from satellite-based lidar depolarization measurements. Model results indicate that multiple scattering significantly depolarizes backscatter return from water clouds. Multiple scattering depolarization is less significant for non-spherical particles. There are sharp contrasts in the depolarization profile between a layer of spherical particles and a layer of non-spherical particles. Although it is not as obvious as ground-based lidar observations, it is likely that we can identify cloud phase not only for a uniform cloud layer, but also for overlapping cloud layers where one layer contains ice and the other water droplets.     

Sensitivity of depolarized lidar signals to cloud and aerosol particle properties

Measurements from depolarized lidars provide a promising method to retrieve both cloud and aerosol properties and a versatile complement to passive satellite-based sensors. For lidar observations of clouds and aerosols, multiple scattering plays an important role in the scattering process. Monte Carlo simulations are carried out to investigate the sensitivity of lidar backscattering depolarization to cloud and aerosol properties. Lidar parameters are chosen to be similar to those of the upcoming space-based CALIPSO lidar. Cases are considered that consist of a single cloud or aerosol layer, as well as a case in which cirrus clouds overlay different types of aerosols. It is demonstrated that besides thermodynamic cloud phase, the depolarized lidar signal may provide additional information on ice or aerosol particle shapes. However, our results show little sensitivity to ice or aerosol particle sizes. Additionally, for the case of multiple but overlapping layers involving both clouds and aerosols, the depolarized lidar contains information that can help identify the particle properties of each layer.     

Lidar Multiple Scattering in Water Droplet Clouds: Toward an Improved Treatment

Although it has long been recognized that the effects of photon multiple scattering generally need to be accounted for in the analysis of lidar cloud returns, this is a difficult problem and current approaches are still rudimentary. The multiple scattering process is controlled by the size of the lidar beamwidth and the distance to the cloud, which jointly determine the lidar footprint, but cloud microphysical content (i.e., particle size, concentration, and shape) exerts a strong influence on the range distribution and depolarization of the returned energy. Since clouds are inherently inhomogeneous with height, it is our premise that vertically homogeneous cloud simulations based on idealized particle size distributions lead to misleading results. We offer a more realistic approach based on the contents of growing water droplet clouds predicted by a sophisticated adiabatic cloud model, which are offered for use as new standard vertically-inhomogeneous cloud models. Lidar returned signal and depolarization profiles derived from our analytical double-scattering method are given for inter-comparison purposes.Presented at the 7th International Workshop on Multiple Scattering Lidar/Light Experiments (MUSCLE7), July 21–23 1994, Chiba, Japan.     

Transmittance ratio constrained retrieval technique for lidar cirrus measurements

This letter describes a lidar retrieval technique that uses the transmittance ratio as a constraint to determine an average lidar ratio as well as extinction and backscatter coefficients of transparent cirrus clouds. The cloud transmittance ratio is directly obtained from two adjacent elastic lidar backscatter signals. The technique can be applied to cirrus measurements where neither the molecular scattering dominant signals above and below the cloud layer are found nor cloudfree reference profiles are available. The technique has been tested with simulated lidar signals and applied to backscatter lidar measurements at Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia.     

Feasibility of a Lidar Utilizing the Glory for Measuring Particle Size of Water Clouds

A new lidar method for measuring water cloud particle size is proposed, and the feasibility of the measurement is discussed. The method utilizes the phenomenon known as the glory which is observed in open air. The proposed lidar consists of a multicolor laser transmitter and two receiver systems looking at the scattering from the target cloud with different scattering angles. Results of the theoretical study show that a system with five laser wavelengths (355, 532, 750, 1064 and 1500 nm) and two receivers located at scattering angles of 180 and 177.5–179 deg is useful for measuring particle size (mode radius of the size distribution) in a range of 4 to 12μm.     

一种便携式激光测云仪的云底高度反演方法

 报道了新研制的一种便携式激光测云仪,该设备由光学、电子和机械三部分组成,采用单片机处理回波信号、识别云底高度,并给出了该激光测云仪的相关参数。将回波斜率突增点作为云底定义点,利用云回波在上升斜率、脉冲宽度和幅度上与大气回波及噪声脉冲间的差异,识别反演出云底高度。另外,同一位置连续测量数次,可以剔除干扰噪声。与计数式激光测云仪进行了实测比较,数据基本吻合。结果表明：便携仪的云高识别算法基本合理、可行,便携仪中所采用的剔除大气回波伪信号算法能提高系统的测低云性能,智能识别算法能滤除干扰噪声。最后,需要对算法进行进一步的优化。     

成都地区中低云层的激光雷达探测

报道了应用Mie散射激光雷达探测云层的实验.利用改进的Klett反演算法对所测雷达回波信号反演获得大气消光系数分布,进一步求出云层高度、厚度及光学厚度.研究了云底高度和云层厚度在不同天气下的变化情况.获得了成都地区云层的一些重要信息,并对所得结果进行了分析讨论.     

Lidar model with parameterized multiple scattering for retrieving cloud optical properties

Cirrus clouds play an important role in the climate through their optical and microphysical properties. The problem with measuring optical properties of these clouds can be partially addressed by using lidar systems. This paper presents a new model for describing the multiple scattering contribution to the backscatter signal measured by the lidar system. The new lidar equation introduced this way, expresses the backscatter signal in terms of a polynomial function of the cloud scattering coefficient. Cloud optical properties such as the extinction coefficient and lidar ratio can be deduced from the new proposed lidar equation. Moreover, some cloud microphysical properties can also be inferred from these optical properties. The method is applied to lidar data collected by the micropulsed lidar operating at Nauru under the auspices of the US Department of Energy ARM program.     

Two-Color Dual-Polarization Pulsed Bistatic Lidar for Measuring Water Cloud Droplet Size

The concept of a pulsed bistatic lidar for measuring water cloud particle size is presented. The method uses a two-color laser and a receiver with a polarization analyzer located at a suitable scattering angle. The dependence of Mie scattering on scattering angle, wavelength, and polarization is used to derive water cloud droplet size. The measurement was simulated for the C₁ and C₂ clouds, and the technique for determining mode radius was studied. The result shows the lidar system with a two-wavelength laser (1064 nm and 532 nm) and a dual-polarization receiver fixed at a scattering angle of around 178 deg can be used to measure a cloud particle size (mode radius) of 4 to 12 μm. Evaluation of the effect of multiple scattering showed that the method can be applied not only for the measurement at the cloud base but also in the cloud where multiple scattering is not negligible.     

Lidar calibration experiments

A series of atmospheric aerosol diffusion experiments combined with lidar detection was conducted to evaluate and calibrate an existing retrieval algorithm for aerosol backscatter lidar systems. The calibration experiments made use of two (almost) identical mini-lidar systems for aerosol cloud detection to test the reproducibility and uncertainty of lidars. Lidar data were obtained from both single-ended and double-ended lidar configurations. A backstop was introduced in one of the experiments and a new method was developed where information obtained from the backstop can be used in the inversion algorithm. Independent in-situ aerosol plume concentrations were obtained from a simultaneous tracer gas experiment with SF, and comparisons with the two lidars were made. The study shows that the reproducibility of the lidars is within 15%, including measurements from both sides of a plume. The correspondence with in-situ measurements is excellent. Finally, the new backstop method is able to reveal information which can close the lidar equation by obtaining the relation between backscatter and extinction in an aerosol cloud. Received: 21 December 1995 / Revised version: 25 July 1996     

Raman Lidar Measurements of Aerosol and Cloud Optical Properties in the Troposphere

A Raman lidar has been developed with photon counting technique. Aerosol and cloud extinction coefficients are derived by nitrogen (N2) molecular Raman scatter returns in the troposphere. Both backscatter coefficients and extinction-backscatter-ratios of aerosol and cloud are presented by simultaneously combining N2 Raman and Mie-Rayleigh returns of aerosol and molecule. Ratios of extinction to backscatter between 20 sr and 70 sr are usually found for aerosol, but less than 15 sr for mid-high altitude cloud in the troposphere.     

Dual-Site Lidar Observations and Satellite Data Analysis for Regional Cloud Characterization

Lidar data observed by two continuously operated portable automated lidar (PAL) systems and images from the visible and thermal infrared channels of the advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) sensor on board the noaa16 satellite are employed for the characterization of cloud heights and cloud types. The PAL systems are located in Chiba and Ichihara city areas, separated by approximately 10 km. Measurements from October 2003 to March 2005 reveal that monthly averages of cloud base height and cloud cover ratio show good agreement between the two sites. The characteristics of the vertical (Chiba) and slant (Ichihara) measurements are also discussed. The PAL data are used to adjust threshold values of a cloud-type classification method in split-window data of noaa16-AVHRR. Comparisons between the lidar signals and the cloud classification results from the concurrent AVHRR images show that the classification method can reasonably be applied to this mid-latitude case, although the split-window technique was originally developed for tropical clouds.     

Elastic backscattering lidar system for atmospheric measurements in Antarctica

An elastic backscattering lidar and initial results are described. The lidar system has been designed to operate in Antarctica for the Italian National Programme for Antarctic Research. The first field trials were held during the period from 31 December 1987 to 10 February 1988. Data were collected for both tropospheric and stratospheric atmospheric parameters. Tropospheric measurements included the cloud base, optical depth, extinction and backscattering coefficients for clouds, whereas aerosols and the molecular atmosphere were monitored in the stratosphere. The lidar system was also tested for the determination of temperature and density in ranges up to 40 km. Preliminary results of the lidar measurements carried out at Terra Nova Bay are presented. The lidar system is composed of a Nd–YAG laser, a Newtonian telescope and two receiving channels with computer-controlled data acquisition and display equipment. The system is operated in a mobile container specifically designed for the Antarctic environment.     

基于差分吸收激光雷达的云消除算法研究

差分吸收激光雷达测量臭氧浓度过程中,云层信号会造成对流层臭氧浓度剧烈的抖动,带来了很大的测量误差.本文提出了一种云消除算法,该算法通过插值云层高度区域内的臭氧浓度,有效消除了对流层臭氧浓度的剧烈抖动.通过阐述其理论基础,给出了其算法关键点,即云信号的识别和云高度的精确定位.根据云层消光系数的特点,通过设定气溶胶消光系数阈值获取云层高度信息,利用累加平均有效减少噪音造成的测量误差.结果表明,在精确确定云高、云底的基础上,运用线性插值算法对臭氧测量结果进行修正,可以有效克服云层对测量结果造成的急剧起伏.     

基于InGaN/GaN多量子阱双波长发光二极管生长及发光性能

差分吸收激光雷达测量臭氧浓度过程中,云层信号会造成对流层臭氧浓度剧烈的抖动,带来了很大的测量误差.本文提出了一种云消除算法,该算法通过插值云层高度区域内的臭氧浓度,有效消除了对流层臭氧浓度的剧烈抖动.通过阐述其理论基础,给出了其算法关键点,即云信号的识别和云高度的精确定位.根据云层消光系数的特点,通过设定气溶胶消光系数阈值获取云层高度信息,利用累加平均有效减少噪音造成的测量误差.结果表明,在精确确定云高、云底的基础上,运用线性插值算法对臭氧测量结果进行修正,可以有效克服云层对测量结果造成的急剧起伏.     

Spectrum characteristics of multichannel water Raman lidar signals and principal component analysis

Using a multichannel full Raman lidar, water Raman signals composed of 32 different Raman wavelengths were obtained, and the time and cloud-height dependences of each spectrum on clear and cloudy days were determined. Although the Raman signals of winter cloud have a higher intensity at short wavelengths than those of summer cloud, these two types of clouds have large overlapping regions in wavelength space. However, in eigenvector space, winter and summer clouds are located at different points and have no overlapping regions. We have suggested that, as a cloud Raman lidar, a multiple-wavelength Raman lidar must be used, and the principal component analysis (PCA) method should be applied to determine the relative amount of each water phase.     

Raman Lidar Measurements of Aerosol and Cloud Optical Properties in the Troposphere

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CALIPSO validation using ground-based lidar in Hefei (31.9°N, 117.2°E), China

Validation measurement in collaboration with existing lidar sites is a very important part of CALIPSO validation program, lidar site in Hefei is invited to collaborate in the CALIPSO validation program. In this paper, ground-based lidar measurements in Hefei performed in coincidence with CALIPSO overpass are presented, attenuated backscatter profiles at 532 nm and 1064 nm, as well as volume depolarization ratio profile at 532 nm measured by CALIPSO are compared with the ones measured by ground-based lidar. The comparisons indicate that CALIPSO measurements are consistent with the ground-based lidar measurements. However, due to the fact that horizontal distributions of aerosols in the lower troposphere and clouds are in most cases inhomogeneous, there are some differences between two lidar measurements in the boundary layer and clouds. The aerosol layer below the semi-transparent thick cloud can be detected by the 532 nm channel of CALIPSO in daytime.     

A method for estimating optical properties of dusty cloud

Based on the scattering properties of nonspherical dust aerosol, a new method is developed for retrieving dust aerosol optical depths of dusty clouds. The dusty clouds are defined as the hybrid system of dust plume and cloud. The new method is based on transmittance measurements from surface-based instruments multi-filter rotating shadowband radiometer （MFRSR） and cloud parameters from lidar measurements. It uses the difference of absorption between dust aerosols and water droplets for distinguishing and estimating the optical properties of dusts and clouds, respectively. This new retrieval method is not sensitive to the retrieval error of cloud properties and the maximum absolute deviations of dust aerosol and total optical depths for thin dusty cloud retrieval algorithm are only 0.056 and 0.1, respectively, for given possible uncertainties. The retrieval error for thick dusty cloud mainly depends on lidar-based total dusty cloud properties.