A Raman lidar to measure water vapor in the atmospheric boundary layer

► A high resolution Raman lidar for atmospheric water vapor is developed and deployed. ► Lidar data are vetted with in-situ point measurements of humidity. ► Persistent humidity structures are identified as packets of hairpin vortices. ► Nocturnal jets, multiple layering, and internal boundary layer...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Advances in water resources 2013-01, Vol.51, p.345-356
Main Authors: Froidevaux, Martin, Higgins, Chad W., Simeonov, Valentin, Ristori, Pablo, Pardyjak, Eric, Serikov, Ilya, Calhoun, Ronald, Bergh, Hubert van den, Parlange, Marc B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied geophysics
Atmospheric boundary layer
Atmospherics
Boundary layer
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
High resolution
Horizontal
Hydrology
Hydrology. Hydrogeology
Internal geophysics
Lidar
Mixing ratios
Raman lidar
Water vapor
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Summary:► A high resolution Raman lidar for atmospheric water vapor is developed and deployed. ► Lidar data are vetted with in-situ point measurements of humidity. ► Persistent humidity structures are identified as packets of hairpin vortices. ► Nocturnal jets, multiple layering, and internal boundary layers are observed. A new multi-telescope scanning Raman lidar designed to measure the water vapor mixing ratio in the atmospheric boundary layer for a complete diurnal cycle with high resolution spatial (1.25m) and temporal (1s) resolutions is presented. The high resolution allows detailed measurements of the lower atmosphere and offers new opportunities for evaporation and boundary layer research, atmospheric profiling and visualization. This lidar utilizes a multi-telescope design that provides for an operational range with a nearly constant signal-to-noise ratio, which allows for statistical investigations of atmospheric turbulence. This new generation ground-based water vapor Raman lidar is described, and first observations from the Turbulent Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiment (TABLE) are presented. Direct comparison with in-situ point measurements obtained during the field campaign demonstrate the ability of the lidar to reliably measure the water vapor mixing ratio. Horizontal measurements taken with time are used to determine the geometric characteristics of coherent structures. Vertical scans are used to visualize nocturnal jet features, layered structures within a stably stratified atmosphere and the internal boundary layer structure over a lake.
ISSN:0309-1708
1872-9657
DOI:10.1016/j.advwatres.2012.04.008