Software for processing of experimental data on polarization laser sensing of high-level clouds

Methodology for determination of the optical and geometric characteristics of clouds is described. Problems of processing data obtained in experiments on polarization laser sensing of the atmosphere are discussed. Technique for reduction of the phase matrices of cirrus obtained with the high-altitude polarization lidar developed at National Research Tomsk State University to the symmetry plane affixed to the preferred orientation of ice crystals in cirrus is described. The experimental data are compared with the data of numerical modeling of phase matrices in the physical optics approximation and meteorological conditions over the lidar at cirrus altitudes. © (2015) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only

ERA5 reanalysis for the data interpretation on polarization laser sensing of high-level clouds

Interpreting the results of a high-level clouds (HLCs) lidar study requires a comparison with the vertical profiles of meteorological quantities. There are no regular radiosonde measurements of vertical profiles of meteorological quantities in Tomsk. The nearest aerological stations are several hundred kilometers away from the lidar and perform radiosonde measurements only a few times a day, whereas lidar experiments are performed continuously throughout the day. To estimate meteorological conditions at the HLC altitudes, we propose to use the ERA5 reanalysis. Its reliability was tested by comparing with the data from five aerological stations within a radius of 500 km around Tomsk. A labeled database of the lidar, radiosonde, and ERA5 data (2016–2020) for isobaric levels 1000–50 hPa was created. The temperature reconstruction error over the entire altitude range was characterized by an RMSE of 0.8–2.8 ◦C, bias of 0–0.9, and Corr ~1. The accuracy of the relative vertical profiles (RMSE 25–40%, Bias 10–22%, and Corr <0.7) and specific humidity (RMSE 0.2–1.2 g/kg, Bias ~0 g/kg, and Corr ~0) at the HLC altitudes were unsatisfying. The ERA5 data on wind direction and speed for the HLC altitudes were promising

Software for processing of experimental data on polarization laser sensing of high-level clouds

Methodology for determination of the optical and geometric characteristics of clouds is described. Problems of processing data obtained in experiments on polarization laser sensing of the atmosphere are discussed. Technique for reduction of the phase matrices of cirrus obtained with the high-altitude polarization lidar developed at National Research Tomsk State University to the symmetry plane affixed to the preferred orientation of ice crystals in cirrus is described. The experimental data are compared with the data of numerical modeling of phase matrices in the physical optics approximation and meteorological conditions over the lidar at cirrus altitudes. © (2015) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only