Observing the Forest Canopy with a New Ultra-Violet Compact Airborne Lidar

We have developed a new airborne UV lidar for the forest canopy and deployed it in the Landes forest (France). It is the first one that: (i) operates at 355 nm for emitting energetic pulses of 16 mJ at 20 Hz while fulfilling eye-safety regulations and (ii) is flown onboard an ultra-light airplane for enhanced flight flexibility. Laser footprints at ground level were 2.4 m wide for a flying altitude of 300 m. Three test areas of ∼500 × 500 m2 with Maritime pines of different ages were investigated. We used a threshold method adapted for this lidar to accurately extract from its waveforms detailed forest canopy vertical structure: canopy top, tree crown base and undergrowth heights. Good detection sensitivity enabled the observation of ground returns underneath the trees. Statistical and one-to-one comparisons with ground measurements by field foresters indicated a mean absolute accuracy of ∼1 m. Sensitivity tests on detection threshold showed the importance of signal to noise ratio and footprint size for a proper detection of the canopy vertical structure. This UV-lidar is intended for future innovative applications of simultaneous observation of forest canopy, laser-induced vegetation fluorescence and atmospheric aerosols

Characterization of dust emission from alluvial sources using aircraft observations and high-resolution modeling

International audienceWe investigate mineral dust emission from alluvial sediments within the upland region in northern Mauritania in the vicinity of a decaying nocturnal low-level jet (LLJ). For the first time, the impact of valleys that are embedded in a rather homogeneous surrounding is investigated with regard to their role as dust source. Measures for local atmospheric dust burden were retrieved from airborne observations, satellite observations, and model simulations and analyzed in order to provide complementary information at different horizontal scales. Observations by the LEANDRE Nouvelle Generation backscatter lidar system flying aboard the French Falcon 20 aircraft were taken along five parallel flight legs perpendicular to the orientation of the main valley system dominating the topography of the study area. Results from a comparison of lidar-derived extinction coefficients with topography and aerial photographs confirm the relevance of (1) alluvial sediments at the valley bottoms as a dust source, and (2) the break-down of the nocturnal LLJ as a trigger for dust emission in this region. An evaluation of the AROME regional model, forecasting dust at high resolution (5 km grid), points toward an under-representation of alluvial dust sources in this region. This is also evident from simulations by the MesoNH research model. Although MesoNH simulations show higher dust loadings than AROME, which are more comparable to the observations, both models underestimate the dust concentrations within the boundary layer compared to lidar observations. A sensitivity study on the impact of horizontal grid spacing (5 km versus 1 km) highlights the importance of spatial resolution on simulated dust loadings

Synergetic technique combining elastic backscatter lidar data and sunphotometer AERONET inversion for retrieval by layer of aerosol optical and microphysical properties

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Observational Evidence And Modelling of An Internal Hydraulic Jump At The Atmospheric Boundary-Layer Top During A Tramontane Event

International audienceA hydraulic jump has been observed with the airborne backscatter lidar LEANDRE 1 (Lidar embarqué pour l'Etude des Aérosols, des Nuages, des interactions Dynamique-Rayonnement etdu cycle de l'Eau) at the top of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) during a Tramontane event in the framework of the Pyréneés experiment. An analytical fluid mechanics model is used to interpret lidar observations in connection with in situ measurements andto study the sensitivity of the hydraulic jump triggering to the boundary conditions. This model, which generalizes the reduced-gravity shallow-water theory for two-dimensional stratified flows over a topograpy, is diagnostic (i.e., the reduced gravity g' = g Δ θvθv is prescribed) and uses boundary conditions defined in terms of Riemann invariants. Using inflow and outflow boundary conditions as well as the reduced gravity prescribed from in situ measurements, the model is able to diagnose the presence of a hydraulic jump at the location suspected from the lidar observations. The wind speed, ABL height and Froude number derived from the model are in good agreement with the observations (within about 20–30%)

Observation of dust emission and transport over Iraq and northwest Iran associated with winter Shamal

Dynamical processes leading to dust emission over Syria and Iraq, in response to a strong winter Shamal event as well as the subsequent transport of dust over Iraq and northwest Iran, are analyzed on the basis of a case study (22-23 February 2010) using a suite of ground-based and space-borne remote sensing platforms together with modeling tools. Surface measurements on 22 February show a sharp reduction in horizontal visibility over Iraq occurring shortly after the passage of a cold front (behind which the northwesterly Shamal winds were blowing) and that visibilities could be as low as 1 km on average for one to two days in the wake of the front. The impact of the southwesterly Kaus winds blowing ahead (east) of the Shamal winds on dust emission over Iraq is also highlighted. Unlike what is observed over Iraq, low near-surface horizontal visibilities (less than 1 km) over northwest Iran are observed well after the passage of the cold front on 23 February, generally in the hours following sunrise. Ground-based lidar measurements acquired in Zanjan show that, in the wake of the front, dust from Syria/Iraq was transported in an elevated 1 to 1.5 km thick plume separated from the surface during the night/morning of February. After sunrise, strong turbulence in the developing convective boundary layer led to mixing of the dust into the boundary layer and in turn to a sharp reduction of the horizontal visibility in Zanjan. The timing of the reduction of surface horizontal visibility in other stations over northwest Iran (Tabriz, Qom and Tehran) is consistent with the downward mixing of dust in the PBL just after sunset, as evidenced in Zanjan. This study shades new light on the processes responsible for dust emission and transport over Iraq and northwest Iran in connection with winter Shamal events. Enhanced knowledge of these processes is key for improving dust forecasts in this region

Evidence of dynamical coupling between the residual layer and the developing convective boundary layer

International audienceThe diurnal cycle of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) hasbeen documented on 8 August 1998 in the framework of the Étude et Simulation de la QUalité de l'air en Ile-de-France (ESQUIF) experiment that took place in the Paris area. The ABL structure was documented by means of a ground-based lidar, surface meteorological stations and soundings. The interaction between the residual layer and the convective boundary layer is investigated using the collected data as well as mesoscale modelling. As opposed to the generally accepted concept, we find evidence of entrainment at the top ofthe residual layer. High temporal simulations of the 8 August 1998 casemade with the mesoscale atmospheric model Meso-NH also show evidenceof mixing at the top of the residual layer (RL). This mixing is believed to be related to the presence of convective (gravity) waves in the RL

Vertical 2-μm Heterodyne Differential Absorption Lidar Measurements of Mean CO₂ Mixing Ratio in the Troposphere

International audienceVertical mean CO2 mixing ratio measurements are reported in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) and in the lower free troposphere (FT), using a 2-μm heterodyne differential absorption lidar (HDIAL). The mean CO2 mixing ratio in the ABL is determined using 1) aerosol backscatter signal and a mean derivative of the increasing optical depth as a function of altitude and 2) optical depth measurements from cloud target returns. For a 1-km vertical long path in the ABL, 2% measurement precision with a time resolution of 30 min is demonstrated for the retrieved mean CO2 absorption. Spectroscopic calculations are reported in details using new spectroscopic data in the 2-μm domain and the outputs of the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (MM5). Then, using both aerosols in the ABL and midaltitude dense clouds in the free troposphere, preliminary HDIAL measurements of mean CO2 mixing ratio in the free troposphere are also presented. The 2-μm HDIAL vertical measurements are compared to ground-based and airborne in situ CO2 mixing ratio measurements and discussed with the atmospheric synoptic conditions

Lidar survey of the post Mt St Helens stratospheric aerosol at Haute Provence Observatory

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