An Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Value-Added Product to Retrieve Optically Thin Cloud Visible Optical Depth using Micropulse Lidar

Technical Report · Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1019412· OSTI ID:1019412

Lo, C; Comstock, JM; Flynn, C

The purpose of the Micropulse Lidar (MPL) Cloud Optical Depth (MPLCOD) Value-Added Product (VAP) is to retrieve the visible (short-wave) cloud optical depth for optically thin clouds using MPL. The advantage of using the MPL to derive optical depth is that lidar is able to detect optically thin cloud layers that may not be detected by millimeter cloud radar or radiometric techniques. The disadvantage of using lidar to derive optical depth is that the lidar signal becomes attenuation limited when τ approaches 3 (this value can vary depending on instrument specifications). As a result, the lidar will not detect optically thin clouds if an optically thick cloud obstructs the lidar beam.

• Research Organization: DOE Office of Science Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE EM Office of Science and Technology (EM-50)
• OSTI ID: 1019412
• Report Number(s): DOE/SC-ARM/TR-077
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABSORPTION
ALGORITHMS
ATTENUATION
CLOUDS
DEAD TIME
OPTICAL RADAR
PROBES
RADAR
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
SHAPE
SIMULATION
SPECIFICATIONS
WAVELENGTHS