HoloGondel: in situ cloud observations on a cable car in the Swiss Alps using a holographic imager

In situ observations of cloud properties in complex alpine terrain where research aircraft cannot sample are commonly conducted at mountain-top research stations and limited to single-point measurements. The HoloGondel platform overcomes this limitation by using a cable car to obtain vertical profil...

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Main Authors: A. Beck, J. Henneberger, S. Schöpfer, J. Fugal, U. Lohmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2017-02-01
Series:Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Online Access:http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/10/459/2017/amt-10-459-2017.pdf
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author A. Beck
J. Henneberger
S. Schöpfer
J. Fugal
U. Lohmann
author_facet A. Beck
J. Henneberger
S. Schöpfer
J. Fugal
U. Lohmann
author_sort A. Beck
collection DOAJ
description In situ observations of cloud properties in complex alpine terrain where research aircraft cannot sample are commonly conducted at mountain-top research stations and limited to single-point measurements. The HoloGondel platform overcomes this limitation by using a cable car to obtain vertical profiles of the microphysical and meteorological cloud parameters. The main component of the HoloGondel platform is the HOLographic Imager for Microscopic Objects (HOLIMO 3G), which uses digital in-line holography to image cloud particles. Based on two-dimensional images the microphysical cloud parameters for the size range from small cloud particles to large precipitation particles are obtained for the liquid and ice phase. The low traveling velocity of a cable car on the order of 10 m s<sup>−1</sup> allows measurements with high spatial resolution; however, at the same time it leads to an unstable air speed towards the HoloGondel platform. Holographic cloud imagers, which have a sample volume that is independent of the air speed, are therefore well suited for measurements on a cable car. Example measurements of the vertical profiles observed in a liquid cloud and a mixed-phase cloud at the Eggishorn in the Swiss Alps in the winters 2015 and 2016 are presented. The HoloGondel platform reliably observes cloud droplets larger than 6.5 µm, partitions between cloud droplets and ice crystals for a size larger than 25 µm and obtains a statistically significantly size distribution for every 5 m in vertical ascent.
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spelling doaj.art-7b27083125184a119ad18bc932d80c0b2022-12-21T23:58:00ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482017-02-0110245947610.5194/amt-10-459-2017HoloGondel: in situ cloud observations on a cable car in the Swiss Alps using a holographic imagerA. Beck0J. Henneberger1S. Schöpfer2J. Fugal3U. Lohmann4ETH Zurich, Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, Universitaetstrasse 16, 8092 Zurich, SwitzerlandETH Zurich, Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, Universitaetstrasse 16, 8092 Zurich, SwitzerlandETH Zurich, Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, Universitaetstrasse 16, 8092 Zurich, SwitzerlandJohannes Gutenberg-Universitaet Mainz, Institute for Atmospheric Physics, J.-J.-Becherweg 21, 55099 Mainz, GermanyETH Zurich, Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, Universitaetstrasse 16, 8092 Zurich, SwitzerlandIn situ observations of cloud properties in complex alpine terrain where research aircraft cannot sample are commonly conducted at mountain-top research stations and limited to single-point measurements. The HoloGondel platform overcomes this limitation by using a cable car to obtain vertical profiles of the microphysical and meteorological cloud parameters. The main component of the HoloGondel platform is the HOLographic Imager for Microscopic Objects (HOLIMO 3G), which uses digital in-line holography to image cloud particles. Based on two-dimensional images the microphysical cloud parameters for the size range from small cloud particles to large precipitation particles are obtained for the liquid and ice phase. The low traveling velocity of a cable car on the order of 10 m s<sup>−1</sup> allows measurements with high spatial resolution; however, at the same time it leads to an unstable air speed towards the HoloGondel platform. Holographic cloud imagers, which have a sample volume that is independent of the air speed, are therefore well suited for measurements on a cable car. Example measurements of the vertical profiles observed in a liquid cloud and a mixed-phase cloud at the Eggishorn in the Swiss Alps in the winters 2015 and 2016 are presented. The HoloGondel platform reliably observes cloud droplets larger than 6.5 µm, partitions between cloud droplets and ice crystals for a size larger than 25 µm and obtains a statistically significantly size distribution for every 5 m in vertical ascent.http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/10/459/2017/amt-10-459-2017.pdf
spellingShingle A. Beck
J. Henneberger
S. Schöpfer
J. Fugal
U. Lohmann
HoloGondel: in situ cloud observations on a cable car in the Swiss Alps using a holographic imager
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
title HoloGondel: in situ cloud observations on a cable car in the Swiss Alps using a holographic imager
title_full HoloGondel: in situ cloud observations on a cable car in the Swiss Alps using a holographic imager
title_fullStr HoloGondel: in situ cloud observations on a cable car in the Swiss Alps using a holographic imager
title_full_unstemmed HoloGondel: in situ cloud observations on a cable car in the Swiss Alps using a holographic imager
title_short HoloGondel: in situ cloud observations on a cable car in the Swiss Alps using a holographic imager
title_sort hologondel in situ cloud observations on a cable car in the swiss alps using a holographic imager
url http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/10/459/2017/amt-10-459-2017.pdf
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