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Atmospheric boundary‐layer characteristics from ceilometer measurements. Part 1: A new method to track mixed layer height and classify clouds
Author(s) -
Kotthaus Simone,
Grimmond C. Sue B.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.3299
Subject(s) - ceilometer , planetary boundary layer , boundary layer , inversion (geology) , meteorology , environmental science , cloud base , convective boundary layer , cloud cover , cloud top , cloud computing , residual , remote sensing , lidar , potential temperature , algorithm , computer science , geology , geography , engineering , aerospace engineering , operating system , paleontology , structural basin
The use of Automatic Lidars and Ceilometers (ALC) is increasingly extended beyond monitoring cloud base height to the study of atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) dynamics. Therefore, long‐term sensor network observations require robust algorithms to automatically detect the mixed layer height (Z ML ). Here, a novel automatic algorithm CABAM (Characterising the Atmospheric Boundary layer based on ALC Measurements) is presented. CABAM is the first non‐proprietary mixed layer height algorithm specifically designed for the commonly deployed Vaisala CL31 ceilometer. The method tracks Z ML , takes into account precipitation, classifies the ABL based on cloud cover and cloud type, and determines the relation between Z ML and cloud base height. CABAM relies solely on ALC measurements. Results perform well against independent reference (AMDAR: Aircraft Meteorological Data Relay) measurements and supervised Z ML detection. AMDAR‐derived temperature inversion heights allow Z ML evaluation throughout the day. Very good agreement is found in the afternoon when the mixed layer height extends over the full ABL. However, during night or the morning transition the temperature inversion is more likely associated with the top of the residual layer. From comparison with SYNOP reports, the ABL classification scheme generally correctly distinguishes between convective and stratiform boundary‐layer clouds, with slightly better performance during daytime. Applied to 6 years of ALC observations in central London, Kotthaus and Grimmond ([Kotthaus, S., 2018]), a companion paper, demonstrate CABAM results are valuable to characterise the urban boundary layer over London, United Kingdom, where clouds of various types are frequent.