A novel post-processing algorithm for Halo Doppler lidars
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Date
2019Author
Vakkari, Ville
Van Zyl, Pieter G.
Manninen, Antti J.
O'Connor, Ewan J.
Schween, Jan H.
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Show full item recordAbstract
Commercially available Doppler lidars have now
been proven to be efficient tools for studying winds and turbulence in the planetary boundary layer. However, in many
cases low signal-to-noise ratio is still a limiting factor for
utilising measurements by these devices. Here, we present
a novel post-processing algorithm for Halo Stream Line
Doppler lidars, which enables an improvement in sensitivity of a factor of 5 or more. This algorithm is based on improving the accuracy of the instrumental noise floor and it
enables longer integration times or averaging of high temporal resolution data to be used to obtain signals down to
− 32 dB. While this algorithm does not affect the measured
radial velocity, it improves the accuracy of radial velocity
uncertainty estimates and consequently the accuracy of retrieved turbulent properties. Field measurements using three
different Halo Doppler lidars deployed in Finland, Greece
and South Africa demonstrate how the new post-processing
algorithm increases data availability for turbulent retrievals
in the planetary boundary layer, improves detection of highaltitude cirrus clouds and enables the observation of elevated
aerosol layers
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http://hdl.handle.net/10394/31886https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/12/839/2019/amt-12-839-2019.pdf
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-839-2019