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MPL

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mpl: Micropulse Lidar

The Micropulse Lidar (MPL) is a ground-based, optical, remote-sensing system designed primarily to determine the altitude of clouds; however, it is also used for detection of atmospheric aerosols. The physical principle is the same as for radar. Pulses of energy are transmitted into the atmosphere; the energy scattered back to the transceiver is collected and measured as a time-resolved signal, thereby detecting clouds and aerosols in real time.

From the time delay between each outgoing pulse and the backscattered signal, the distance to the scatterer is inferred. Post-processing of the lidar return characterizes the extent and properties of aerosols or other particles in a region.

Measurements

Aerosol backscattered radiation Cloud base height Lidar polarization
Aerosol extinction Cloud fraction Radar polarization
Aerosol optical depth Cloud top height Radar reflectivity
Backscattered radiation Hydrometeor phase

Locations

  • Fixed
  • AMF1
  • AMF2
  • AMF3

Related Publications

2017

Qiu Y, C Zhao, J Guo, and J Li. 2017. "8-Year ground-based observational analysis about the seasonal variation of the aerosol-cloud droplet effective radius relationship at SGP site." Atmospheric Environment, 164, 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2017.06.002.

Stachlewska I, M Costa-Surós, and D Althausen. 2017. "Raman lidar water vapor profiling over Warsaw, Poland." Atmospheric Research, 194, 10.1016/j.atmosres.2017.05.004.

Nicolas J, A Vogelmann, R Scott, A Wilson, M Cadeddu, D Bromwich, J Verlinde, D Lubin, L Russell, C Jenkinson, H Powers, M Ryczek, G Stone, and J Wille. 2017. "January 2016 extensive summer melt in West Antarctica favoured by strong El Nino." Nature Communications, 8, 15799, doi:10.1038/ncomms15799.

Liu Y, M Shupe, Z Wang, and G Mace. 2017. "Cloud vertical distribution from combined surface and space radar–lidar observations at two Arctic atmospheric observatories." Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 17(9), doi:10.5194/acp-17-5973-2017.

Chang K, T L'Ecuyer, B Kahn, and V Natraj. 2017. "Information content of visible and midinfrared radiances for retrieving tropical ice cloud properties." Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 122(9), 10.1002/2016JD026357.

2016

Wagner TJ and JM Kleiss. 2016. "Error Characteristics of Ceilometer-Based Observations of Cloud Amount." Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 33(7), 10.1175/jtech-d-15-0258.1.

Feng Y, R Kotamarthi, R Coulter, C Zhao, and M Cadeddu. 2016. "Radiative and thermodynamic responses to aerosol extinction profiles during the pre-monsoon month over South Asia." Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 16(1), 10.5194/acp-16-247-2016.

2015

Thorsen TJ, Q Fu, RK Newsom, DD Turner, and JM Comstock. 2015. "Automated Retrieval of Cloud and Aerosol Properties from the ARM Raman Lidar. Part I: Feature Detection." Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 32(11), 10.1175/jtech-d-14-00150.1. ONLINE.

Chandra AS, C Zhang, SA Klein, and H Ma. 2015. "Low-cloud characteristics over the tropical western Pacific from ARM observations and CAM5 simulations." Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 120(17), 52402, 10.1002/2015jd023369.

Solomon A, G Feingold, and MD Shupe. 2015. "The role of ice nuclei recycling in the maintenance of cloud ice in Arctic mixed-phase stratocumulus." Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 15(18), 10.5194/acp-15-10631-2015.

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