Micropulse-Lidar-Retrieved Boundary-Layer Heights from Multiple ARM Sites: Quality Assessment and Comparison of Multiple Products

Knowledge of the Planetary Boundary Layer Height (PBLH) is crucial for various applications in atmospheric and environmental sciences.Lidar measurements are frequently used to monitor the evolution of the PBLH, providing more frequent observations than traditional radiosonde-based methods. However, lidar-derived PBLH estimates have substantial uncertainties, contingent upon the retrieval algorithm used. This study critically evaluates the performance of the Different Thermo-Dynamic Stabilities (DTDS) algorithm, an innovative approach applied at five separate Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) sites across the globe. The DTDS algorithm demonstrates robust performance compared to radiosonde-obtained PBLH estimates, with correlation coefficients over 0.77 at all sites. This study delves into a detailed examination of the DTDS algorithm's strengths and limitations with respect to both radio-sonde derived and other lidar-based estimates of the PBLH by exploring their respective errors and limitations. It is found that varying techniques and definitions can lead to diverse PBLH retrievals due to the inherent intricacy and variability of the boundary layer. The DTDS-based PBLH dataset outperforms existing products derived from ceilometer data, offering a more precise representation of the PBLH. This extensive dataset paves the way for advanced studies and an improved understanding of boundary-layer dynamics, with valuable applications in weather forecasting, climate modelling, and environmental studies.