Three years of routine Raman lidar measurements of tropospheric aerosols: Backscattering, extinction, and residual layer height

We have performed a three-year series of routine lidar measurements at preselected times. The measurements were performed between 1 December 1997, and 30 November 2000, at Kühlungsborn, Germany (54°07' N, 11°46' E). Using a Rayleigh/Mie/Raman lidar system, we measured the aerosol backsc...

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Main Authors: J. Schneider, R. Eixmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2002-01-01
Series:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Online Access:http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/2/313/2002/acp-2-313-2002.pdf
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author J. Schneider
J. Schneider
R. Eixmann
author_facet J. Schneider
J. Schneider
R. Eixmann
author_sort J. Schneider
collection DOAJ
description We have performed a three-year series of routine lidar measurements at preselected times. The measurements were performed between 1 December 1997, and 30 November 2000, at Kühlungsborn, Germany (54°07' N, 11°46' E). Using a Rayleigh/Mie/Raman lidar system, we measured the aerosol backscatter coefficients at three wavelengths and the extinction coefficient at one wavelength. The present data analysis focuses on after-sunset Raman measurements obtained on cloud-free days. Aerosol backscatter profiles are available for altitudes above 100 m, while the majority of the extinction measurements has been restricted to heights above the residual layer. The residual layer shows an annual cycle with its maximum height in summer (2000 m) and minimum height in winter (850 m). The backscatter coefficients in the residual layer were found to be about 10 times higher than above. The mean aerosol optical depth above the residual layer and below 5 km is 0.3(±1.0) x10<sup>-2</sup> in summer, and 1.5(±1.0) x10<sup>-2</sup> in winter, which almost is negligible compared to values measured in during daytime in the planetary boundary layer. A cluster analysis of the backward trajectories yielded two major directions of air mass origin above the residual layer and 4 major directions inside. A marked difference between the aerosol properties dependent on the air mass origin could be found for air masses originating from the west and travelling at high wind speeds. Comparing the measured spectral dependence of the backscatter coefficients with data from the Global Aerosol Data Set, we found a general agreement, but only a few conclusions with respect to the aerosol type could be drawn due to the high variability of the measured backscatter coefficients.
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spelling doaj.art-44e2264b5c1a4c6fb3d28d8f19f50e772022-12-22T03:55:58ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242002-01-0124313323Three years of routine Raman lidar measurements of tropospheric aerosols: Backscattering, extinction, and residual layer heightJ. SchneiderJ. SchneiderR. EixmannWe have performed a three-year series of routine lidar measurements at preselected times. The measurements were performed between 1 December 1997, and 30 November 2000, at Kühlungsborn, Germany (54°07' N, 11°46' E). Using a Rayleigh/Mie/Raman lidar system, we measured the aerosol backscatter coefficients at three wavelengths and the extinction coefficient at one wavelength. The present data analysis focuses on after-sunset Raman measurements obtained on cloud-free days. Aerosol backscatter profiles are available for altitudes above 100 m, while the majority of the extinction measurements has been restricted to heights above the residual layer. The residual layer shows an annual cycle with its maximum height in summer (2000 m) and minimum height in winter (850 m). The backscatter coefficients in the residual layer were found to be about 10 times higher than above. The mean aerosol optical depth above the residual layer and below 5 km is 0.3(±1.0) x10<sup>-2</sup> in summer, and 1.5(±1.0) x10<sup>-2</sup> in winter, which almost is negligible compared to values measured in during daytime in the planetary boundary layer. A cluster analysis of the backward trajectories yielded two major directions of air mass origin above the residual layer and 4 major directions inside. A marked difference between the aerosol properties dependent on the air mass origin could be found for air masses originating from the west and travelling at high wind speeds. Comparing the measured spectral dependence of the backscatter coefficients with data from the Global Aerosol Data Set, we found a general agreement, but only a few conclusions with respect to the aerosol type could be drawn due to the high variability of the measured backscatter coefficients.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/2/313/2002/acp-2-313-2002.pdf
spellingShingle J. Schneider
J. Schneider
R. Eixmann
Three years of routine Raman lidar measurements of tropospheric aerosols: Backscattering, extinction, and residual layer height
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
title Three years of routine Raman lidar measurements of tropospheric aerosols: Backscattering, extinction, and residual layer height
title_full Three years of routine Raman lidar measurements of tropospheric aerosols: Backscattering, extinction, and residual layer height
title_fullStr Three years of routine Raman lidar measurements of tropospheric aerosols: Backscattering, extinction, and residual layer height
title_full_unstemmed Three years of routine Raman lidar measurements of tropospheric aerosols: Backscattering, extinction, and residual layer height
title_short Three years of routine Raman lidar measurements of tropospheric aerosols: Backscattering, extinction, and residual layer height
title_sort three years of routine raman lidar measurements of tropospheric aerosols backscattering extinction and residual layer height
url http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/2/313/2002/acp-2-313-2002.pdf
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