P1.9
Evaluation of the CT25KT Vaisala Ceilometer and its uses in dynamics meteorological studies
Belay B. Demoz, Howard University, Washington, DC; and M. Adam and K. Vermeesch
We report on the performance of the Vaisala 25KT Ceilometer as compared to other high-end and expensive lidars as well as profiler radars. We use the full profile data from a single ceilometer and extrapolate our conclusion on what could be achieved from nationally and internationally distributed ceilometers/lidars. In particular, we comment and explore the usability of the data from ceilometers for dynamic meteorological studies, boundary layer investigations, and its utility as a continuous cloud-base level indicator. We will compare ceilometer data with the Howard University and NASA Goddard Raman lidars as well as other lidars that were operated nearby. A specific case study - a low-level jet event, will be used as the main meteorological phenomenon that data from instruments will be compared. Water vapor mixing ratio, aerosol backscatter, and derived relative humidity profiles retrieved from Raman lidar measurements are used to characterize the dynamics of a low level jet event observed by a wind profiler. Performance of the ceilometer will be evaluated against these measurements. With the recent upgrade in instrument technology of the ceilometer and the ongoing NWS interest in supplying many of the ASOS location with ceilometers, results from this analysis will contribute in future use of these emerging data set.
Poster Session 1, Poster: Advances in Lidar Applications
Wednesday, 14 January 2009, 2:30 PM-4:00 PM, Hall 5
Previous paper Next paper