Validation of a Water Vapor Micropulse Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL)

A water vapor micropulse differential absorption lidar (DIAL) instrument was developed collaboratively by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and Montana State University (MSU). This innovative, eye-safe, low-power, diode-laser-based system has demonstrated the ability to obtain unat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of atmospheric and oceanic technology 2016-11, Vol.33 (11), p.2353-2372
Main Authors: Weckwerth, Tammy M, Weber, Kristy J, Turner, David D, Spuler, Scott M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorption
Air pollution
Atmospheric aerosols
Atmospheric boundary layer
Atmospheric research
Atmospherics
Calibration
Correlation coefficient
Correlation coefficients
Dials
Differential absorption lidar
Diodes
Global Positioning System
Global positioning systems
GPS
Ground stations
Humidity
Instrumentation
Laser applications
Lasers
Lidar
Marine
Microwave radiometers
Night
Outdoor air quality
Ozone
Positioning systems
Power
Profilers
Radiance
Radiometers
Radiosondes
Remote sensing systems
Satellites
Transmitters
Water vapor
Water vapour
Weather forecasting
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Summary:A water vapor micropulse differential absorption lidar (DIAL) instrument was developed collaboratively by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and Montana State University (MSU). This innovative, eye-safe, low-power, diode-laser-based system has demonstrated the ability to obtain unattended continuous observations in both day and night. Data comparisons with well-established water vapor observing systems, including radiosondes, Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometers (AERIs), microwave radiometer profilers (MWRPs), and ground-based global positioning system (GPS) receivers, show excellent agreement. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient for the DIAL and radiosondes is consistently greater than 0.6 from 300 m up to 4.5 km AGL at night and up to 3.5 km AGL during the day. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient for the DIAL and AERI is greater than 0.6 from 300 m up to 2.25 km at night and from 300 m up to 2.0 km during the day. Further comparison with the continuously operating GPS instrumentation illustrates consistent temporal trends when integrating the DIAL measurements up to 6 km AGL.
ISSN:0739-0572
1520-0426
DOI:10.1175/JTECH-D-16-0119.1