4 research outputs found
Characterization of atmospheric aerosol optical properties based on the combined use of a ground-based Raman lidar and an airborne optical particle counter in the framework of the Hydrological Cycle in the Mediterranean Experiment – Special Observation Period 1
Vertical profiles of the particle backscattering coefficient
at 355, 532 and 1064 nm measured by the University of Basilicata Raman
lidar system (BASIL) have been compared with simulated particle backscatter profiles obtained through a Mie
scattering code based on the use of simultaneous and almost co-located
profiles provided by an airborne optical particle counter. Measurements
were carried out during dedicated flights of the French research aircraft
ATR42 in the framework of the European Facility for Airborne Research (EUFAR)
project “WaLiTemp”, as part of the Hydrological Cycle in the Mediterranean
Experiment – Special Observation Period 1 (HyMeX-SOP1). Results from two
selected case studies are reported and discussed in the paper, and a dedicated analysis approach is illustrated and applied to the
dataset. Results reveal a good agreement between measured and simulated
multi-wavelength particle backscattering profiles. Specifically, simulated
and measured particle backscattering profiles at 355 and 532 nm for the second case study are found to
deviate less than 15 % (mean value =5.9 %) and 50 % (mean
value =25.9 %), respectively, when considering the presence of a
continental–urban aerosol component, while slightly larger deviation values are found for the first study. The reported good agreement between
measured and simulated multi-wavelength particle backscatter profiles
testifies to the ability of multi-wavelength Raman lidar systems to infer
aerosol types at different altitudes.</p
Comparison of Antarctic polar stratospheric cloud observations by ground-based and space-borne lidar and relevance for chemistry–climate models
A comparison of polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) occurrence from 2006 to
2010 is presented, as observed from the ground-based lidar station at McMurdo
(Antarctica) and by the satellite-borne CALIOP lidar (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar
with Orthogonal Polarization) measuring over McMurdo. McMurdo (Antarctica) is
one of the primary lidar stations for aerosol measurements of the NDACC (Network for
Detection of Atmospheric Climate Change). The ground-based observations have
been classified with an algorithm derived from the recent v2 detection and
classification scheme, used to classify PSCs observed by CALIOP.
A statistical approach has been used to compare ground-based and satellite-based observations, since point-to-point comparison is often troublesome due
to the intrinsic differences in the observation geometries and the imperfect
overlap of the observed areas.
A comparison of space-borne lidar observations and a selection of simulations
obtained from chemistry–climate models (CCMs) has been made by using a series of
quantitative diagnostics based on the statistical occurrence of different PSC
types. The distribution of PSCs over Antarctica, calculated by several
CCMVal-2 and CCMI chemistry–climate models has been compared with the PSC
coverage observed by the satellite-borne CALIOP lidar. The use of several
diagnostic tools, including the temperature dependence of the PSC
occurrences, evidences the merits and flaws of the different models. The
diagnostic methods have been defined to overcome (at least partially) the
possible differences due to the resolution of the models and to identify
differences due to microphysics (e.g., the dependence of PSC occurrence on
T−TNAT).
A significant temperature bias of most models has been observed, as well as a
limited ability to reproduce the longitudinal variations in PSC occurrences
observed by CALIOP. In particular, a strong temperature bias has been observed
in CCMVal-2 models with a strong impact on PSC formation. The WACCM-CCMI
(Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model – Chemistry-Climate Model
Initiative) model compares rather well with the CALIOP observations, although
a temperature bias is still present.</p
Water vapor and aerosol lidar measurements within an atmospheric instrumental super site to study the aerosols and the tropospheric trace gases in rome
A joint instrumental Super Site, combining observation in urban (“Sapienza” University) and semi-rural (ESA-ESRIN and CNR-ISAC) environment, for atmospheric studies and satellites Cal/Val activities, has been set-up in the Rome area (Italy). Ground based active and passive remote sensing instruments located in both sites are operating in synergy, offering information for a wide range of atmospheric parameters. In this work, a comparison of aerosol and water vapor measurements derived by the Rayleigh-Mie-Raman (RMR) lidars, operating simultaneously in both experimental sites, is presented
Water vapor and aerosol lidar measurements within an atmospheric instrumental super site to study the aerosols and the tropospheric trace gases in rome
A joint instrumental Super Site, combining observation in urban (“Sapienza” University) and semi-rural (ESA-ESRIN and CNR-ISAC) environment, for atmospheric studies and satellites Cal/Val activities, has been set-up in the Rome area (Italy). Ground based active and passive remote sensing instruments located in both sites are operating in synergy, offering information for a wide range of atmospheric parameters. In this work, a comparison of aerosol and water vapor measurements derived by the Rayleigh-Mie-Raman (RMR) lidars, operating simultaneously in both experimental sites, is presented