Observations of the developing urban boundary layer using a pulsed Doppler lidar

The University of Salford, in conjunction with DERA, Malvern, have developed a mobile, pulsed infrared lidar. The lidar operates at a wavelength of 10.6 &#181m with an output power of 0.7mJ. The system is described, and its use for measuring the urban boundary layer is outlined. The retrieval of the wind and temperature structure of the boundary layer is illustrated using data collected in the city of Salford close to the centre of Manchester in North-West England. It is possible to measure radial wind velocity with an accuracy of 0.5msec-1 and temperature gradients with an accuracy in the region of 0.5K per km. Comparisons are made with boundary layer wind and temperature measurements previously published. Future plans are discussed within the context of the UK Natural Environmental Research Agency URGENT programme.