Airborne Lidar Measurements of the Two-Dimensional Atmospheric Pressure Profile

Abstract

This paper describes the first high accuracy remote measurements of the two-dimensional atmospheric pressure field. Pressure is a fundamental atmospheric state variable that is required for virtually all atmospheric applications. The vertical and horizontal structure of the static pressure field characterizes the spatial distribution of mass in the atmosphere. Horizontal gradients of pressure represent the primary physical force leading to all scales of atmospheric circulations in the horizontal dimension which includes the large-scale general circulation as well as mesoscale phenomena such as sea/land breezes.</jats:p