Characterization of convection-related parameters by Raman lidar: Selected case studies from the convective and orographically-induced precipitation study

An approach to determine the convective available potential energy (CAPE) and the convective inhibition (CIN) based on the use of data from a Raman lidar system is illustrated in this work. The use of Raman lidar data allows to provide high temporal resolution measurements (5 min) of CAPE and CIN and follow their evolution over extended time periods covering the full cycle of convective activity. Lidar-based measurements of CAPE and CIN are obtained from Raman lidar measurements of the temperature and water vapor mixing ratio profiles and the surface measurements of temperature, pressure and dew point temperature provided by a surface weather station. The approach is applied to the data collected by the Raman lidar system BASIL in the frame of COPS. Attention was focused on 15 July and 25-26 July 2007. Lidar-based measurements are in good agreement with simultaneous measurements from radiosondes and with estimates from different mesoscale models

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

Abstract. 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

Safety and Efficacy of Subcutaneous Rituximab in Previously Untreated Patients with CD20+ Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma or Follicular Lymphoma: Results from an Italian Phase IIIb Study

Subcutaneous (SC) rituximab may be beneficial in terms of convenience and tolerability, with potentially fewer and less severe administration-related reactions (ARRs) compared to the intravenous (IV) form. This report presents the results of a phase IIIb study conducted in Italy. The study included adult patients with CD20+ DLBCL or FL having received at least one full dose of IV RTX 375 mg/m2 during induction or maintenance. Patients on induction received ≥4 cycles of RTX SC 1400 mg plus standard chemotherapy and FL patients on maintenance received ≥6 cycles of RTX SC. Overall, 159 patients (73 DLBCL, 86 FL) were enrolled: 103 (54 DLBCL, 49 FL) completed induction and 42 patients with FL completed 12 maintenance cycles. ARRs were reported in 10 patients (6.3%), 3 (4.2%) with DLBCL and 7 (8.1%) with FL, all of mild severity, and resolved without dose delay/discontinuation. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and serious adverse events occurred in 41 (25.9%) and 14 patients (8.9%), respectively. Two patients with DLBCL had fatal events: Klebsiella infection (related to rituximab) and septic shock (related to chemotherapy). Neutropenia (14 patients, 8.9%) was the most common treatment-related TEAE. Two patients with DLBCL (2.8%) and 6 with FL (7.0%) discontinued rituximab due to TEAEs. 65.2% and 69.7% of patients with DLBCL and 67.9% and 73.6% of patients with FL had complete response (CR) and CR unconfirmed, respectively. The median time to events (EFS, PFS, and OS) was not estimable due to the low rate of events. At a median follow-up of 29.5 and 47.8 months in patients with DLBCL and FL, respectively, EFS, PFS, and OS were 70.8%, 70.8%, and 80.6% in patients with DLBCL and 77.9%, 77.9%, and 95.3% in patients with FL, respectively. The switch from IV to SC rituximab in patients with DLBCL and FL was associated with low risk of ARRs and satisfactory response in both groups. This trial was registered with NCT01987505

Characterization of convection-related parameters by Raman lidar: Selected case studies from the convective and orographically-induced precipitation study

An approach to determine the convective available potential energy (CAPE) and the convective inhibition (CIN) based on the use of data from a Raman lidar system is illustrated in this work. The use of Raman lidar data allows to provide high temporal resolution measurements (5 min) of CAPE and CIN and follow their evolution over extended time periods covering the full cycle of convective activity. Lidar-based measurements of CAPE and CIN are obtained from Raman lidar measurements of the temperature and water vapor mixing ratio profiles and the surface measurements of temperature, pressure and dew point temperature provided by a surface weather station. The approach is applied to the data collected by the Raman lidar system BASIL in the frame of COPS. Attention was focused on 15 July and 25-26 July 2007. Lidar-based measurements are in good agreement with simultaneous measurements from radiosondes and with estimates from different mesoscale models

Characterization of particle hygroscopicity by Raman lidar: Selected case studies from the convective and orographically-induced precipitation study

The characterization of particle hygroscopicity has primary importance for climate monitoring and prediction. Model studies have demonstrated that relative humidity (RH) has a critical influence on aerosol climate forcing. Hygroscopic properties of aerosols influence particle size distribution and refractive index and hence their radiative effects. Aerosol particles tend to grow at large relative humidity values as a result of their hygroscopicity. Raman lidars with aerosol, water vapor and temperature measurement capability are potentially attractive tools for studying aerosol hygroscopicity as in fact they can provide continuous altitude-resolved measurements of particle optical, size and microphysical properties, as well as relative humidity, without perturbing the aerosols or their environment. Specifically, the University of Basilicata Raman lidar system (BASIL) considered for the present study, has the capability to perform all-lidar measurements of relative humidity based on the application of both the rotational and the vibrational Raman lidar techniques in the UV. BASIL was operational in Achern (Black Forest, Lat: 48.64° N, Long: 8.06° E, Elev.: 140 m) between 25 May and 30 August 2007 in the framework of the Convective and Orographically-induced Precipitation Study (COPS). The present analysis is focused on selected case studies characterized by the presence of different aerosol types with different hygroscopic behavior. The observed behavior, dependent upon aerosol composition, may range from hygrophobic to strongly hygroscopic

Characterization of PBL height and structure by Raman lidar: Selected case studies from the convective and orographically-induced precipitation study

The planetary boundary layer includes the portion of the atmosphere which is directly influenced by the presence of the Earth's surface. Aerosol particles trapped within the PBL can be used as tracers to study boundary-layer vertical structure and time variability. The PBL height and structure can be estimated based on the use of Raman lidar data. A first method is based on the first order derivative of the range-corrected elastic signal (RCS). Estimates of the PBL height and structure obtained from the above mentioned approach are compared with simultaneous estimates obtained from potential temperature profiles determined from the radiosondes launched simultaneously to lidar operation. Additional estimates of the boundary layer height are obtained from rotational Raman lidar signals used for temperature measurements signals, this latter approach being preferable in the decaying phase of the boundary layer, when effectiveness of the approach based on the elastic lidar signals may be altered by the presence of the residual layer. Preliminary results and correlation are illustrated and discussed

Characterization of PBL height and structure by Raman lidar: selected case studies from the Convective and Orographically-induced Precipitation Study

The planetary boundary layer includes the portion of the atmosphere which is directly influenced by the presence of the Earth's surface. Aerosol particles trapped within the PBL can be used as tracers to study boundary-layer vertical structure and time variability. As a result of this, elastic backscatter signals collected by lidar systems can be used to determine the height and the internal structure of the PBL. Our analysis considers a method based on the first order derivative of the range-corrected elastic signal, which is a modified version of the method defined by Seibert and Sicard [1,2]. The analysis is focused on selected case studies collected by the Raman lidar system BASIL during the Convective and Orographically-induced Precipitation Study, held in Southern Germany and Eastern France in the period June-August 2007. Estimates of the PBL height and structure for specific case studies obtained from the above mentioned approach are compared with simultaneous estimates obtained from potential temperature profiles determined from the radiosondes launched simultaneously to lidar operation. Additional estimates of the boundary layer height and structure are obtained from lidar temperature signals. Preliminary results from these comparisons are illustrated and discussed in this paper

RAMAN LIDAR CHARACTERIZATION OF PBL HEIGHT AND STRUCTURE DURING COPS: COMPARISON BETWEEN DIFFERENT APPROACHES

The planetary boundary layer includes the portion of the atmosphere which is directly influenced by the presence of the Earth's surface. Aerosol particles trapped within the PBL can be used as tracers to study boundary-layer vertical structure and time variability. The PBL height and structure can be estimated based on the use of Raman lidar data. The method is based on the first order derivative of the range-corrected elastic signal (RCS), which is a modified version of the method defined by Seibert et al. [1] and Sicard et al. [2]. Estimates of the PBL height and structure are obtained from the above mentioned approach are compared with simultaneous estimates obtained from potential temperature profiles determined from the radiosondes launched simultaneously to lidar operation. Additional estimates of the boundary layer height are obtained from rotational Raman lidar signals, used for temperature measurements signals. Preliminary results and correlation are illustrated and discussed

CHARACTERIZATION OF CONVECTION-RELATED PARAMETERS BY RAMAN LIDAR: ANALYSIS OF SELECTED CASE STUDIES FROM THE CONVECTIVE AND OROGRAPHICALLY-INDUCEDPRECIPITATION STUDY

This work illustrates an approach to determine the convective available potential energy (CAPE) and the convective inhibition (CIN) based on the use of data from a Raman lidar system. The use of Raman lidar data allows to provide high temporal resolution (5 min) measurements of CAPE and CIN and follow their evolution over extended time period covering the full cycle of convective activity. Lidar-based measurements of CAPE and CIN are obtained from Raman lidar measurements of the temperature profile and the surface measurements of temperature, pressure and dew point temperature provided by a surface weather station. The approach is tested and applied to the data collected by the Raman lidar system BASIL in the frame of the Convective and Orographically-induced Precipitation Study (COPS). Attention was focused on four selected case studies: 19 June, 30 June-1 July, 14-15 July and 25-26 July, with a specific focus on 15 July 2007. Reported measurements are found to be in good agreement with simultaneous measurements obtained from the radiosondes launched in Achern and with estimates from different mesoscale models

The Use of Raman Lidar for the Characterization of Convection-related Parameters: Analysis of Selected Case Studies from COPS

An approach to determine the convective available potential energy (CAPE) and the convective inhibition (CIN) based on the use of data from a Raman lidar system is illustrated in this work. The use of Raman lidar data allows to provide high temporal resolution measurements (5 min) of CAPE and CIN and follow their evolution over extended time periods covering the full cycle of convective activity. Lidar-based measurements of CAPE and CIN are obtained from Raman lidar measurements of the temperature and water vapour mixing ratio profiles and the surface measurements of temperature, pressure and dew point temperature provided by a surface weather station. The approach is applied to the data collected by the Raman lidar system BASIL in the frame of COPS. Attention was focused on 15 July and 25-26 July 2007. Lidar-based measurements are in good agreement with simultaneous measurements from radiosondes and with estimates from different mesoscale models