Signatures of dynamical processes in Raman lidar profiles of the atmosphere

Raman lidar measurements provide profiles of several different tracers of spatial and temporal variations, which are excellent signatures for studies of dynamical processes in the atmosphere. An examination of Raman lidar data collected during the last four decades clearly show signatures of atmospheric planetary waves, gravity waves, low-level jets, weather fronts, turbulence from wind shear at surfaces and at the interface of the boundary layer with the free troposphere. Water vapor profiles are found to be important as a tracer of the sources of turbulence eddies associated with thermal convection, pressure waves, and wind shears, which result from surface heating, winds, weather systems, orographic forcing, and regions of reduced atmospheric stability. Examples of these processes are selected to show the influence of turbulence on profiles of atmospheric properties. Turbulence eddies generated in the wind shear region near the top of the boundary layer are found to mix into the atmospheric boundary layer. Results from several prior research projects are examined to gain a better understanding of processes impacting optical propagation through the many sources of turbulence observed in the lower atmosphere. Advances in lasers, detectors, and particularly in high-speed electronics now available are expected to provide important opportunities to improve our understanding of the formation processes, as well as for tracking of the sources and dissipation of turbulence eddies.

[1]  C. Russell Philbrick,et al.  Atmospheric optical extinction measured by lidar , 1998 .

[2]  R. Coulter,et al.  A case study of turbulence in the stable nocturnal boundary layer , 1990 .

[3]  C. Russell Philbrick,et al.  Lower tropospheric temperature measurement using a rotational Raman lidar , 1996, Optics & Photonics.

[4]  L. Andrews,et al.  Laser Beam Propagation Through Random Media , 1998 .

[5]  C. R. Philbrick,et al.  Lidar description of the evaporative duct in ocean environments , 2005, SPIE Optics + Photonics.

[6]  C. Russell Philbrick,et al.  Optical extinction from Raman lidar measurements , 1996, Optics & Photonics.

[7]  Larry Mahrt,et al.  Simple formulation of turbulent mixing in the stable free atmosphere and nocturnal boundary layer , 1992 .

[8]  C. Russell Philbrick,et al.  Application of Raman lidar to air quality measurements , 2000, Defense, Security, and Sensing.

[9]  C. Russell Philbrick.  Raman lidar techniques for air pollution measurements , 2002, SPIE Optics + Photonics.

[10]  C. Moeng.  A Large-Eddy-Simulation Model for the Study of Planetary Boundary-Layer Turbulence , 1984 .

[11]  Hans D. Hallen,et al.  Laser remote sensing of species concentrations and dynamical processes , 2014, Defense + Security Symposium.

[12]  C. Russell Philbrick,et al.  Raman lidar measurements of aerosol distribution and cloud properties , 2005, SPIE Optics + Photonics.

[13]  C. R. Philbrick,et al.  Comparison of lidar water vapor measurements using Raman scatter at 266 nm and 532 nm , 1996, IGARSS '96. 1996 International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium.

[14]  C. R. Philbrick,et al.  Multistatic lidar profiling of urban atmospheric aerosols , 2005 .

[15]  J. Wyngaard.  Turbulence in the Atmosphere: Contents , 2010 .

[16]  J. H. Richter,et al.  The Birth of “CAT” and Microscale Turbulence , 1970 .

[17]  Robert Eugene Kiser.  The generation and characterization of surf zone aerosols and their impact on naval electro-optical systems , 1997 .

[18]  Larry Mahrt,et al.  Stratified Atmospheric Boundary Layers , 1999 .

[19]  R. Stull.  An Introduction to Boundary Layer Meteorology , 1988 .

[20]  Hans D. Hallen,et al.  Lidar investigations of atmospheric dynamics , 2015, SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications.

[21]  C. Russell Philbrick.  Raman lidar measurements of atmospheric properties , 1994, Defense, Security, and Sensing.

[22]  S. Arya.  Air Pollution Meteorology and Dispersion , 1998 .

[23]  C. Russell Philbrick,et al.  Multiple-wavelength Raman lidar measurements of atmospheric water vapor , 1994 .

[24]  David M. Brown,et al.  Multi-wavelength multi-angular lidar for aerosol characterization , 2009, Defense + Commercial Sensing.

[25]  C. Russell Philbrick.  Raman lidar characterization of the meteorological, electromagnetic, and electro-optical environment , 2005, SPIE Optics + Photonics.