STRAT: an automated algorithm to retrieve the vertical structure of the atmosphere from single channel lidar data

Yohann Morille (1, 2) , Martial Haeffelin (1, 2) , Philippe Drobinski (2, 3) , Jacques Pelon (2, 3)

1 LMD - Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (UMR 8539)
2 IPSL - Institut Pierre-Simon-Laplace
3 SA - Service d'aéronomie

Today several lidar networks around the world provide large data sets that are extremely valuable for aerosol and cloud research. Retrieval of atmospheric constituent properties from lidar profiles requires detailed analysis of spatial and temporal variations of the signal. This paper presents an algorithm called STRAT (STRucture of the ATmosphere) designed to retrieve the vertical distribution of cloud and aerosol layers in the boundary layer and through the free troposphere and to identify near particle free regions of the ver tical profile and the range at which the lidar signal becomes too attenuated for exploitation, from a single lidar channel. The paper describes each detection method used in the STRAT algorithm and its application to a tropospheric backscatter lidar operated at the SIRTA obser vatory, in Palaiseau, 20 km south of Paris, France. STRAT retrievals are compared to other means of layer detection and classification; retrieval performances and uncertainties are discussed.

Mots clés: clouds; classification; lidar; aerosols; STRAT; algorithm

Domaines: Physique Atmosphérique et Océanique [physics.ao-ph]; Océan, Atmosphère

Yohann Morille, Martial Haeffelin, Philippe Drobinski, Jacques Pelon. STRAT: an automated algorithm to retrieve the vertical structure of the atmosphere from single channel lidar data. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 2007, 24, pp.761-775. ⟨hal-00147430⟩