An EARLINET early warning system for atmospheric aerosol aviation hazards

• Published in: Atmospheric chemistry and physics 2020-09, Vol.20 (18), p.10775-10789
• Main Authors: Papagiannopoulos, Nikolaos, D'Amico, Giuseppe, Gialitaki, Anna, Ajtai, Nicolae, Alados-Arboledas, Lucas, Amodeo, Aldo, Amiridis, Vassilis, Baars, Holger, Balis, Dimitris, Binietoglou, Ioannis, Comerón, Adolfo, Dionisi, Davide, Falconieri, Alfredo, Fréville, Patrick, Kampouri, Anna, Mattis, Ina, Mijic, Zoran, Molero, Francisco, Papayannis, Alex, Pappalardo, Gelsomina, Rodríguez-Gómez, Alejandro, Solomos, Stavros, Mona, Lucia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosol research; Aerosols; Atmospheric aerosols; Atmospheric particulates; Atmospheric physics; Automation; Aviation; Backscatter; Backscattering; Calibration; Clouds; Depolarization; Deserts; Dust; Dust storms; Early warning systems; Emergency communications systems; Hazards; High resolution; Infrastructure; Intrusion; Lidar; Observatories; Optical properties; Optical radar; Remote sensing; Resolution; Sciences of the Universe; Volcanic ash; Volcanic dust; Volcanoes
• ISSN: 1680-7324; 1680-7316; 1680-7324
• DOI: 10.5194/acp-20-10775-2020

A stand-alone lidar-based method for detecting airborne hazards for aviation in near real time (NRT) is presented. A polarization lidar allows for the identification of irregular-shaped particles such as volcanic dust and desert dust. The Single Calculus Chain (SCC) of the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) delivers high-resolution preprocessed data: the calibrated total attenuated backscatter and the calibrated volume linear depolarization ratio time series. From these calibrated lidar signals, the particle backscatter coefficient and the particle depolarization ratio can be derived in temporally high resolution and thus provide the basis of the NRT early warning system (EWS). In particular, an iterative method for the retrieval of the particle backscatter is implemented. This improved capability was designed as a pilot that will produce alerts for imminent threats for aviation. The method is applied to data during two diverse aerosol scenarios: first, a record breaking desert dust intrusion in March 2018 over Finokalia, Greece, and, second, an intrusion of volcanic particles originating from Mount Etna, Italy, in June 2019 over Antikythera, Greece. Additionally, a devoted observational period including several EARLINET lidar systems demonstrates the network's preparedness to offer insight into natural hazards that affect the aviation sector.