Observations of Water Vapor, Temperature and Aerosol Backscatter Coefficients Using the Micropulse DIAL

The NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) has developed a suite of five MicroPulse Differential Absorption Lidar (MPD) systems that provide continuous, high-resolution profiling (5-minute intervals) of temperature, water vapor, and aerosol backscatter in the lower troposphere (ranging from 400 meters to 6 kilometers in altitude). These lidars utilize low-power, eye-safe (Class 1M) diode laser sources. Unlike many conventional thermodynamic remote sensing instruments, the MPD retrievals are fully self-contained, requiring no external information, calibration or model-based assumptions. The fully constrained data processing is independent of external priors or atmospheric state assumptions, enabling accurate detection of inversion layers, elevated water vapor, and unique “outlier” atmospheric structures that deviate from expectation. This independence from atmospheric models makes the MPD ideal for validating them, identifying their limitations, and refining observation requirements to enhance our understanding of the boundary layer and lower troposphere. Additionally, the MPD's ability to capture key parameters relevant to convection makes it a valuable tool for improving severe weather forecasting through data assimilation.