Survey of Thermodynamic and Kinematic Profiles in New York State during April 2024

Multiple thermodynamic profiling systems were deployed along with three New York State Mesonet (NYSM) surface, flux and profiling sites in April 2024. NYSM profiling systems include Microwave Radiometers (MWR), providing profiles of temperature and water vapor, and Doppler wind lidars (DWL), providing profiles of the horizontal and vertical wind. Three NSF NCAR MicroPulse Differential Absorption Lidars (MPDs) collected observations of absolute humidity and aerosol backscatter coefficient profiles at the Webster, Chazy and University at Albany (UAlbany) NYSM sites. One NSF NCAR Atmospheric Sounder Spectrometer (ASSIST II) infrared spectrometer, retrieving profiles of water vapor and temperature, was collocated with an MPD at the UAlbany NYSM site. National Weather Service twice daily radiosondes at 00 and 12 UTC were supplemented by an 18Z daily radiosonde launch at UAlbany. The month-long field deployment, sponsored by NSF, contributed to and extended beyond the NASA Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project (NEBP) observations of the total solar eclipse on 8 April 2024.

Comparisons of the remote sensing water vapor and temperature profiles with collocated in situ radiosonde measurements show significant agreement. Different methods and input datasets for retrieving the ASSIST profiles will be assessed. Evaluations of diurnal moisture and temperature variability and characterizations of the spatial distribution and vertical variability of water vapor and temperature profiles across New York State are underway. The relationships between MPD, ASSIST and MWR moisture and temperature profiles with soil moisture, precipitation, surface fluxes, surface wind and DWL boundary layer wind profiles will be assessed.