Raman Lidar Measurements during the International H2O Project. Part I: Instrumentation and Analysis Techniques

2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. N. Whiteman ◽  
B. Demoz ◽  
K. Rush ◽  
G. Schwemmer ◽  
B. Gentry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cirrus Cloud ◽  
Raman Lidar ◽  
Error Statistics ◽  
Full Account ◽  
Nasa Goddard Space ◽  
Ice Water Content ◽  
Water Vapor Mixing Ratio ◽  
Ice Water

Abstract The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Scanning Raman Lidar (SRL) participated in the International H2O Project (IHOP), which occurred in May and June 2002 in the midwestern part of the United States. The SRL received extensive optical modifications prior to and during the IHOP campaign that added new measurement capabilities and enabled unprecedented daytime water vapor measurements by a Raman lidar system. Improvements were also realized in nighttime upper-tropospheric water vapor measurements. The other new measurements that were added to the SRL for the IHOP deployment included rotational Raman temperature, depolarization, cloud liquid water, and cirrus cloud ice water content. In this first of two parts, the details of the operational configuration of the SRL during IHOP are provided along with a description of the analysis and calibration procedures for water vapor mixing ratio, aerosol depolarization, and cirrus cloud extinction-to-backscatter ratio. For the first time, a Raman water vapor lidar calibration is performed, taking full account of the temperature sensitivity of water vapor and nitrogen Raman scattering. Part II presents case studies that permit the daytime and nighttime error statistics to be quantified.

Raman Lidar Measurements during the International H2O Project. Part II: Case Studies

2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. N. Whiteman ◽  
B. Demoz ◽  
G. Schwemmer ◽  
B. Gentry ◽  
P. Di Girolamo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Back Trajectory ◽  
Cirrus Cloud ◽  
Raman Lidar ◽  
Cloud Optical Depth ◽  
Back Trajectory Analysis ◽  
Cloud Modeling

Abstract The NASA GSFC Scanning Raman Lidar (SRL) participated in the International H2O Project (IHOP) that occurred in May and June 2002 in the midwestern part of the United States. The SRL system configuration and methods of data analysis were described in Part I of this paper. In this second part, comparisons of SRL water vapor measurements and those of Lidar Atmospheric Sensing Experiment (LASE) airborne water vapor lidar and chilled-mirror radiosonde are performed. Two case studies are then presented: one for daytime and one for nighttime. The daytime case study is of a convectively driven boundary layer event and is used to characterize the daytime SRL water vapor random error characteristics. The nighttime case study is of a thunderstorm-generated cirrus cloud case that is studied in its meteorological context. Upper-tropospheric humidification due to precipitation from the cirrus cloud is quantified as is the cirrus cloud optical depth, extinction-to-backscatter ratio, ice water content, cirrus particle size, and both particle and volume depolarization ratios. A stability and back-trajectory analysis is performed to study the origin of wave activity in one of the cloud layers. These unprecedented cirrus cloud measurements are being used in a cirrus cloud modeling study.

scholarly journals A two-channel, tunable diode laser-based hygrometer for measurement of water vapor and cirrus cloud ice water content in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 8271-8309 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. D. Thornberry ◽  
A. W. Rollins ◽  
R. S. Gao ◽  
L. A. Watts ◽  
S. J. Ciciora ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Lower Stratosphere ◽  
Tunable Diode Laser ◽  
Cirrus Cloud ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Cloud Particle ◽  
Upper Troposphere ◽  
Ice Water Content ◽  
Ice Water

Abstract. The recently developed NOAA Water instrument is a two-channel, closed-path, tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer designed for the measurement of water vapor and enhanced total water (vapor + inertially enhanced condensed-phase) in the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere from the NASA Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS) or other high-altitude research aircraft. The instrument utilizes wavelength-modulated spectroscopy with second harmonic detection near 2694 nm to achieve high precision with a 79 cm double-pass optical path. The detection cells are operated under constant temperature, pressure and flow conditions to maintain a constant sensitivity to H2O independent of the ambient sampling environment. An on-board calibration system is used to perform periodic in situ calibrations to verify the stability of the instrument sensitivity during flight. For the water vapor channel, ambient air is sampled perpendicular to the flow past the aircraft in order to reject cloud particles, while the total water channel uses a heated, forward-facing inlet to sample both water vapor and cloud particles. The total water inlet operates subisokinetically, thereby inertially enhancing cloud particle number in the sample flow and affording increased cloud water content sensitivity. The NOAA Water instrument was flown for the first time during the second deployment of the Airborne Tropical TRopopause EXperiment (ATTREX) in February–March 2013 on board the Global Hawk UAS. The instrument demonstrated a typical in-flight precision (1 s, 1σ) of better than 0.17 parts per million (ppm, 10−6 mol mol−1), with an overall H2O vapor measurement uncertainty of 5% ± 0.23 ppm. The inertial enhancement for cirrus cloud particle sampling under ATTREX flight conditions ranged from 33–48 for ice particles larger than 8 μm in diameter, depending primarily on aircraft altitude. The resulting ice water content detection limit (2σ) was 0.023–0.013 ppm, corresponding to approximately 2 μg m−3, with an estimated overall uncertainty of 20%.

scholarly journals A two-channel, tunable diode laser-based hygrometer for measurement of water vapor and cirrus cloud ice water content in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. D. Thornberry ◽  
A. W. Rollins ◽  
R. S. Gao ◽  
L. A. Watts ◽  
S. J. Ciciora ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Lower Stratosphere ◽  
Tunable Diode Laser ◽  
Cirrus Cloud ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Cloud Particle ◽  
Upper Troposphere ◽  
Ice Water Content ◽  
Ice Water

Abstract. The recently developed NOAA Water instrument is a two-channel, closed-path, tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer designed for the measurement of upper troposphere/lower stratosphere water vapor and enhanced total water (vapor + inertially enhanced condensed phase) from the NASA Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS) or other high-altitude research aircraft. The instrument utilizes wavelength-modulated spectroscopy with second harmonic detection near 2694 nm to achieve high precision with a 79 cm double-pass optical path. The detection cells are operated under constant temperature, pressure, and flow conditions to maintain a constant sensitivity to H2O independent of the ambient sampling environment. An onboard calibration system is used to perform periodic in situ calibrations to verify the stability of the instrument sensitivity during flight. For the water vapor channel, ambient air is sampled perpendicular to the flow past the aircraft in order to reject cloud particles, while the total water channel uses a heated, forward-facing inlet to sample both water vapor and cloud particles. The total water inlet operates subisokinetically, thereby inertially enhancing cloud particle number in the sample flow and affording increased cloud water content sensitivity. The NOAA Water instrument was flown for the first time during the second deployment of the Airborne Tropical TRopopause EXperiment (ATTREX) in February–March 2013 on the NASA Global Hawk UAS. The instrument demonstrated a typical in-flight precision (1 s, 1σ) of better than 0.17 parts per million (ppm, 10−6 mol mol−1), with an overall H2O vapor measurement uncertainty of 5% ± 0.23 ppm. The inertial enhancement for cirrus cloud particle sampling under ATTREX flight conditions ranged from 33 to 48 for ice particles larger than 8 μm in diameter, depending primarily on aircraft altitude. The resulting ice water content detection limit (2σ) was 0.023–0.013 ppm, corresponding to approximately 2 μg m−3, with an estimated overall uncertainty of 20%.

Determination of the Combined Ventilation Factor and Capacitance for Ice Crystal Aggregates from Airborne Observations in a Tropical Anvil Cloud

2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 376-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul R. Field ◽  
J. Heymsfield ◽  
Aaron Bansemer ◽  
Cynthia H. Twohy
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Water Vapor ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Ice Crystal ◽  
Ice Water Content ◽  
Water Vapor Mixing Ratio ◽  
Ice Water ◽  
Ventilation Factor

Abstract The ventilation factor and capacitance used in numerical models to represent ice crystal aggregates directly affects the growth rate of the ice crystal aggregates, and consequently the sink of atmospheric water vapor. Currently, numerical models that prognose ice water content (IWC) and water vapor mixing ratio represent the capacitance and ventilation factor of precipitation-sized particles with simplified geometries, such as hexagonal plates. The geometries of actual precipitation-sized particles are often more complex, and a test of the values being employed is needed. Aircraft observations obtained during a Lagrangian spiral descent through the sublimation zone of a tropical anvil cloud have been used to determine an estimate of combined dimensionless capacitance and ventilation factor for the nonpristine geometries exhibited by ice crystal aggregates. By combining measurements of bulk ice water content, the particle size distribution, and environmental subsaturation, the change in ice water content was modeled throughout the spiral descent and compared with observations of the change in ice water content. Uncertainties resulting from potential systematic biases in the measurements and parameterizations used in the analysis were investigated with sensitivity tests. Most of the uncertainty was related to an assumed maximum potential bias in the measurement of IWC of ±45%. The resulting combined ventilation factor and dimensionless capacitance value was 1.3 (with a range of 0.6–1.9, defined by 68% of sensitivity test trials) for a particle size–weighted mean value of (Sc)1/3(Re)1/2 = 14.9 ± 1.7, where Sc is the Schmidt number and Re is the Reynolds number. Results from commonly adopted combinations of ventilation factor relations and capacitances are compared with the observations presented here, and, finally, surrogate dimensionless capacitances are suggested that when combined with commonly used ventilation factor relations are consistent with the results presented herein.

scholarly journals Spectrally-Resolved Raman Lidar to Measure Atmospheric Three-Phase Water Simultaneously

2020 ◽  
Vol 237 ◽  
pp. 06017
Author(s):  
Fuchao Liu ◽  
Fan Yi
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Raman Spectra ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Cloud Microphysics ◽  
Raman Lidar ◽  
Atmospheric Water ◽  
Three Phase ◽  
Phase Water ◽  
Spectrally Resolved ◽  
Ice Water

We report on a spectrally-resolved Raman lidar that can simultaneously profile backscattered Raman spectrum signals from water vapor, water droplets and ice crystals as well as aerosol fluorescence in the atmosphere. The lidar emits a 354.8-nm ultraviolet laser radiation and samples echo signals in the 393.0-424.0 nm wavelength range with a 1.0-nm spectral resolution. A spectra decomposition method is developed to retrieve fluorescence spectra, water vapor Raman spectra and condensed (liquid and/or ice) water Raman spectra successively. Based on 8 different clear-sky nighttime measurement results, the entire atmospheric water vapor Raman spectra are for the first time obtained by lidar. The measured normalized water vapor Raman spectra are nearly invariant and can serve as background reference for atmospheric water phase state identification under various weather conditions. For an ice virga event, it’s found the extracted condensed water Raman spectra are highly similar in shape to theoretical ice water Raman spectra reported by Slusher and Derr (1975). In conclusion, the lidar provides an effective way to measure three-phase water simultaneously in the atmosphere and to study of cloud microphysics as well as interaction between aerosols and clouds.

scholarly journals A statistical analysis of the influence of deep convection on water vapor variability in the tropical upper troposphere

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (15) ◽  
pp. 5847-5864 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Wright ◽  
R. Fu ◽  
A. J. Heymsfield
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
Upper Troposphere ◽  
Ambient Relative Humidity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ice Water Content ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Ice Water ◽  
Tropical Upper Troposphere

Abstract. The factors that control the influence of deep convective detrainment on water vapor in the tropical upper troposphere are examined using observations from multiple satellites in conjunction with a trajectory model. Deep convection is confirmed to act primarily as a moisture source to the upper troposphere, modulated by the ambient relative humidity (RH). Convective detrainment provides strong moistening at low RH and offsets drying due to subsidence across a wide range of RH. Strong day-to-day moistening and drying takes place most frequently in relatively dry transition zones, where between 0.01% and 0.1% of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Precipitation Radar observations indicate active convection. Many of these strong moistening events in the tropics can be directly attributed to detrainment from recent tropical convection, while others in the subtropics appear to be related to stratosphere-troposphere exchange. The temporal and spatial limits of the convective source are estimated to be about 36–48 h and 600–1500 km, respectively, consistent with the lifetimes of detrainment cirrus clouds. Larger amounts of detrained ice are associated with enhanced upper tropospheric moistening in both absolute and relative terms. In particular, an increase in ice water content of approximately 400% corresponds to a 10–90% increase in the likelihood of moistening and a 30–50% increase in the magnitude of moistening.

scholarly journals Calibration of a Multichannel Water Vapor Raman Lidar through Noncollocated Operational Soundings: Optimization and Characterization of Accuracy and Variability

2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Dionisi ◽  
Fernando Congeduti ◽  
Gian Luigi Liberti ◽  
Francesco Cardillo
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Calibration Procedure ◽  
System Stability ◽  
Calibration Coefficient ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Raman Lidar ◽  
Measurement Session ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Water Vapor Mixing Ratio

Abstract This paper presents a parametric automatic procedure to calibrate the multichannel Rayleigh–Mie–Raman lidar at the Institute for Atmospheric Science and Climate of the Italian National Research Council (ISAC-CNR) in Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, using as a reference the operational 0000 UTC soundings at the WMO station 16245 (Pratica di Mare) located about 25 km southwest of the lidar site. The procedure, which is applied to both channels of the system, first identifies portions of the lidar and radiosonde profiles that are assumed to sample the same features of the water vapor profile, taking into account the different time and space sampling. Then, it computes the calibration coefficient with a best-fit procedure, weighted by the instrumental errors of both radiosounding and lidar. The parameters to be set in the procedure are described, and values adopted are discussed. The procedure was applied to a set of 57 sessions of nighttime 1-min-sampling lidar profiles (roughly about 300 h of measurements) covering the whole annual cycle (February 2007–September 2008). A calibration coefficient is computed for each measurement session. The variability of the calibration coefficients (∼10%) over periods with the same instrumental setting is reduced compared to the values obtained with the previously adopted, operator-assisted, and time-consuming calibration procedure. Reduction of variability, as well as the absence of evident trends, gives confidence both on system stability as well as on the developed procedure. Because of the definition of the calibration coefficient and of the different sampling between lidar and radiosonde, a contribution to the variability resulting from aerosol extinction and to the spatial and temporal variability of the water vapor mixing ratio is expected. A preliminary analysis aimed at identifying the contribution to the variability from these factors is presented. The parametric nature of the procedure makes it suitable for application to similar Raman lidar systems.

Measurement of Total Water with a Tunable Diode Laser Hygrometer: Inlet Analysis, Calibration Procedure, and Ice Water Content Determination

2007 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 463-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean M. Davis ◽  
A. Gannet Hallar ◽  
Linnea M. Avallone ◽  
William Engblom
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Water Vapor ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Diode Laser ◽  
Tunable Diode Laser ◽  
Calibration Data ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ice Water Content ◽  
Ice Water

Abstract The University of Colorado closed-path tunable diode laser hygrometer (CLH), a new instrument for the in situ measurement of enhanced total water (eTW, the sum of water vapor and condensed water enhanced by a subisokinetic inlet), has recently been flown aboard the NASA DC-8 and WB-57F aircrafts. The CLH has the sensitivity necessary to quantify the ice water content (IWC) of extremely thin subvisual cirrus clouds (∼0.1 mg m−3), while still providing measurements over a large range of conditions typical of upper-tropospheric cirrus (up to 1 g m−3). A key feature of the CLH is its subisokinetic inlet system, which is described in detail in this paper. The enhancement and evaporation of ice particles that results from the heated subisokinetic inlet is described both analytically and based on computational fluid dynamical simulations of the flow around the aircraft. Laboratory mixtures of water vapor with an accuracy of 2%–10% (2σ) were used to calibrate the CLH over a wide range of water vapor mixing ratios (∼50–50 000 ppm) and pressures (∼100–1000 mb). The water vapor retrieval algorithm, which is based on the CLH instrument properties as well as on the spectroscopic properties of the water absorption line, accurately fits the calibration data to within the uncertainty of the calibration mixtures and instrument signal-to-noise ratio. A method for calculating cirrus IWC from the CLH enhanced total water measurement is presented. In this method, the particle enhancement factor is determined from an independent particle size distribution measurement and the size-dependent CLH inlet efficiency. It is shown that despite the potentially large uncertainty in particle size measurements, the error introduced by this method adds ∼5% error to the IWC calculation. IWC accuracy ranges from 20% at the largest IWC to 50% at small IWC (<5 mg m−3).

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