A Turbulence-Oriented Approach to Retrieve Various Atmospheric Parameters Using Advanced Lidar Data Processing Techniques

Abstract

The article is aimed at presenting a semi-empirical model coded and computed in the programming language Python, which utilizes data gathered with a standard biaxial elastic lidar platform in order to calculate the altitude profiles of the structure coefficients of the atmospheric refraction index C N 2 ( z ) and other associated turbulence parameters. Additionally, the model can be used to calculate the PBL (Planetary Boundary Layer) height, and other parameters typically employed in the field of astronomy. Solving the Fernard–Klett inversion by correlating sun-photometer data obtained through our AERONET site with lidar data, it can yield the atmospheric extinction and backscatter profiles α ( z ) and β ( z ) , and thus obtain the atmospheric optical depth. Finally, several theoretical notions of interest that utilize the solved parameters are presented, such as approximated relations between C N 2 ( z ) and the atmospheric temperature profile T ( z ) , and between the scintillation of backscattered lidar signal and the average wind speed profile U ( z ) . These obtained profiles and parameters also have several environmental applications that are connected directly and indirectly to human health and well-being, ranging from understanding the transport of aerosols in the atmosphere and minimizing the errors in measuring it, to predicting extreme, and potentially-damaging, meteorological events.

Tropospheric Dust and Associated Atmospheric Circulations over the Mediterranean Region with Focus on Romania’s Territory

“…High EC episodes occurred around 22.1% and 21.4% at the Ias , i and Cluj-Napoca, respectively. Reported case studies have shown that the presence of fine particles type is specific for the spring and winter seasons [25,30,40,41,43,44]. In contrast, for Bucharest, the EC dominated occurred with a presence of up to 13.3%.…”

Multi-Sensor Observation of a Saharan Dust Outbreak over Transylvania, Romania in April 2019

“…Therefore, in this paper, our main intention is to provide more information through multi-source data integration. In Romania there are several studies focusing on Saharan dust intrusions [28][29][30][31]. However, these studies were conducted in the southern and eastern part of Romania.…”

Investigation of Aerosol Properties and Structures in Two Representative Meteorological Situations over the Vipava Valley Using Polarization Raman LiDAR

“…A variety of weather conditions with specific localized impacts on vertical mixing need to be investigated [5]. In comparison to air-based in situ measurements, high temporal and spatial resolution LiDAR measurements has proven to be very useful for identifying aerosol sources and transport mechanisms as well as the evolution of the PBL [6][7][8][9][10]. Although satellite-based global observation tools [11][12][13][14] could in principle be used, these measurements have considerable uncertainty and are available only in limited time slots, as satellites have typical revisit times of two weeks.…”