Jacques Porteneuve

Systematic DIAL lidar monitoring of the stratospheric ozone vertical distribution at Observatoire de Haute-Provence (43.92°N, 5.71°E)

Long term stratospheric DIAL (Differential Absorption Lidar) ozone lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) measurements have been performed at the Observatoire de Haute-Provence (OHP) since 1985 and as part of the Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Changes (NDSC) since 1991. This paper provides a detailed description of the DIAL lidar instrument implemented at OHP and a discussion of the ozone retrieval analysis. The instrument includes the detection of atmospheric nitrogen Raman scattering wavelengths, which is required for ozone measurements in the presence of strong volcanic aerosol loading. A comprehensive evaluation of the error budget in the 10–50 km altitude range is performed with particular emphasis on the bias associated with background and volcanic stratospheric aerosol. This bias is evaluated using ancillary measurements of the aerosol size distribution obtained from 1991 to 1999 after the Mount Pinatubo volcanic eruption. Results show that the bias associated with background aerosols is smaller than 1% above 13 km while the bias due to volcanic aerosols reaches a maximum of 5% above 15 km in the DIAL Raman ozone retrieval. In background aerosol conditions the total accuracy of the DIAL ozone vertical distribution at OHP ranges from 5% below 20 km to 15–30% above 45 km with a vertical resolution varying from 0.5 km to 5 km.

Wind-velocity lidar measurements by use of a Mach–Zehnder interferometer, comparison with a Fabry–Perot interferometer

We present the first wind-velocity profiles obtained with a direct-detection Doppler lidar that uses a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) as spectral discriminator. The measurements were performed in the lower stratosphere, between 10 and 40 km in altitude, at the Observatoire de Haute Provence (OHP), France, during nighttime. They are in excellent agreement with those obtained simultaneously and independently with the already validated double Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) of the OHP Doppler lidar (mean difference lower than the combined standard deviation). A statistical analysis shows that the random error obtained with this experimental MZI is 1.94 times the Cramer-Rao lower bound and is approximately half of that given by the FPI (both operating in photometric mode). Nevertheless, the present MZI measurements are sensitive to the presence of atmospheric particles and need an additional correction, whereas the OHP FPI is designed to be insensitive to particulate scattering.

Description and evaluation of a tropospheric ozone lidar implemented on an existing lidar in the southern subtropics

Rayleigh-Mie lidar measurements of stratospheric temperature and aerosol profiles have been carried out at Reunion Island (southern tropics) since 1993. Since June 1998, an operational extension of the system is permitting additional measurements of tropospheric ozone to be made by differential absorption lidar. The emission wavelengths (289 and 316 nm) are obtained by stimulated Raman shifting of the fourth harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser in a high-pressure deuterium cell. A mosaic of four parabolic mirrors collects the backscattered signal, and the transmission is processed by the multiple fiber collector method. The altitude range of ozone profiles obtained with this system is 3¿17 km. Technical details of this lidar system working in the southern tropics, comparisons of ozone lidar profiles with radiosondes, and scientific perspectives are presented. The significant lack of tropospheric ozone measurements in the tropical and equatorial regions, the particular scientific interest in these regions, and the altitude range of the ozone measurements to 16¿17 km make this lidar supplement useful and its adaptation technically conceivable at many Rayleigh-Mie lidar stations.

An instrumented station for the survey of ozone and climate change in the southern tropics

The assessment of changes induced by human activities on Earth atmospheric composition and thus on global climate requires a long-term and regular survey of the stratospheric and tropospheric atmospheric layers. The objective of this paper is to describe the atmospheric observations performed continuously at Reunion Island (55.5 degrees east, 20.8 degrees south) for 15 years. The various instruments contributing to the systematic observations are described as well as the measured parameters, the accuracy and the database. The LiDAR systems give profiles of temperature, aerosols and ozone in the troposphere and stratosphere, probes give profiles of temperature, ozone and relative humidity, radiometers and spectrometers give stratospheric and tropospheric integrated columns of a variety of atmospheric trace gases. Data are included in international networks, and used for satellite validation. Moreover, some scientific activities for which this station offers exceptional opportunities are highlighted, especially air mass exchanges nearby dynamical barriers: (1) On the vertical scale through the tropical tropopause layer (stratosphere-troposphere exchange). (2) On the quasi-horizontal scale across the southern subtropical barrier separating the tropical stratospheric reservoir from mid- and high latitudes.

DYNAMO: A Mars upper atmosphere package for investigating solar wind interaction and escape processes, and mapping Martian fields

Abstract DYNAMO is a small multi-instrument payload aimed at characterizing current atmospheric escape, which is still poorly constrained, and improving gravity and magnetic field representations, in order to better understand the magnetic, geologic and thermal history of Mars. The internal structure and evolution of Mars is thought to have influenced climate evolution. The collapse of the primitive magnetosphere early in Mars history could have enhanced atmospheric escape and favored transition to the present arid climate. These objectives are achieved by using a low periapsis orbit. DYNAMO has been proposed in response to the AO released in February 2002 for instruments to be flown as a complementary payload onboard the CNES Orbiter to Mars (MO-07), foreseen to be launched in 2007 in the framework of the French PREMIER Mars exploration program. MO-07 orbital phase 2b (with an elliptical orbit of periapsis 170 km), and in a lesser extent 2a, offers an unprecedented opportunity to investigate by in situ probing the chemical and dynamical properties of the deep ionosphere, thermosphere, and the interaction between the atmosphere and the solar wind, and therefore the present atmospheric escape rate. Ultraviolet remote sensing is an essential complement to characterize high, tenuous, layers of the atmosphere. One Martian year of operation, with about 5,000 low passes, should allow DYNAMO to map in great detail the residual magnetic field, together with the gravity field. Additional data on the internal structure will be obtained by mapping the electric conductivity, sinergistically with the NETLANDER magnetic data. Three options have been recommended by the International Science and Technical Review Board (ISTRB), who met on July 1st and 2nd, 2002. One of them is centered on DYNAMO. The final choice, which should be made before the end of 2002, will depend on available funding resources at CNES.

Subgrid-scale cirrus observed by lidar at mid-latitude: variability effects of the cloud optical depth

Abstract The temporal variability of the 532-nm optical depth of cirrus clouds observed with a lidar at Observatory of Haute-Provence (43.9°N, 5.7°E, and 683-m altitude), has been analyzed. While advection dominates at the first order, variability of the optical depth on timescales of minutes can be related to spatial fluctuations of cloud properties on typical scales of a few kilometers. Log-normal distributions of the optical depth have been used to model the variability of the cirrus optical depth as observed by lidars. These investigations have been performed for three independent classes of cirrus. The log-normal distribution of the optical depth is applicable to the classes of thin clouds; however, for thick clouds, likely due to successive freezing/defreezing effects, the distribution is rather bimodal. This work compares the effects of visible solar light scattered by inhomogeneous cirrus to effects generated by homogeneous clouds having a constant geometrical thickness using the short-scale lidar observations of optical depth distribution and an analytical approach. In the case of thin cirrus, the scattering of solar light reaching the ground is stronger for inhomogeneous than homogeneous cirrus. In case of thick cirrus, multiple-scattering processes need to be considered. The conclusion is that log-normal distribution of the cirrus optical depth should be considered in any radiative calculation in case of model grids larger than a few kilometers whatever the cirrus type is.

Lidar Developments and Observations over Réunion Island (20.8° S, 55.5° E)

The aim of this paper is to show the preliminary observations and to illustrate new opportunities about waves studies near the subtropical barrier. In order to validate the lidar measurements over Reunion, stratospheric and mesospheric temperature profiles are compared to the Cospar International Reference Atmosphere model, to Solar Mesospheric Explorer climatology and to the National Meteorological Center analyses. We present FFT analyses applied on temperature fluctuations revealing atmospheric wave disturbances. Both equatorial (Kelvin, Rossby-gravity) and extra-tropical Rossby waves have been identified with these lidar observations. The top of the stratospheric aerosol layer can move vertically in conjunction with vertical motions and may indicated the effect of the relative position of the southern subtropical barrier to Reunion.

Raman water-vapor lidar implemented on an existing lidar system in the southern tropics

A Raman lidar dedicated to night-time tropospheric water-vapor high-resolution measurements is currently being developed at Réunion island in the south-western Indian Ocean. To our knowledge, it is the first permanent instrument of its kind in this tropical region. The geophysical and instrumental interests and issues on the radiative, dynamical and chemical plans for such a measurement, specially in the tropics, are obvious. The choice of a visible laser excitation wavelength was initially a constraint, in view of the weakness of the Raman scattering process that is the basis of the development of this instrument, but many arguments also plead for such a choice. After describing the water-vapor measurement method of this lidar, which is straightforward in principle, we stress on the main delicate underlying issues related to this method. A precise description of the optical parts of the lidar system is then given that emphasizes the importance of the rejection of the elastically backscattered signals in the Raman channels. Finally, we list the most important future works concerning the validation and calibration stages of this instrument that is intended to become an atmospheric surveillance instrument on a medium term.

Intercomparison of ozone profiles measurements by a differential absorption lidar system and satellites at Buenos Aires, Argentina

A ground-based differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) system has been implemented at CEILAP laboratory, located in the Buenos Aires industrial suburbs, The goal was to perform measurements of the stratospheric ozone layer. Since early 199 systematic measurements of zone concentration profiles from approximately 18 to 35 km altitude are performed. Our measurements are carried out in 5 hours in average during the night and in cloudless conditions. The DIAL system allows us to calculate directly the ozone profile from the lidar backscattering radiation since it is a self- calibrating technique. The signals processing takes into account the influence of the temperature profile on the ozone cross section. The temperature data is obtained from the radiosondes measurements performed at Ezeira International Airport. The evolution of the stratospheric ozone profile is studied for different months. Results are compared with the data obtained by different satellites like SAGE II and HALOE. The spatial and temporal range of the satellites must be taken into account.

Durban atmospheric lidar program

A brief description and use of two LIDAR (Acronym for LIght Detection And Ranging) systems in the measurements of atmospheric aerosols and vertical temperature profiles above Durban are presented. Early local aerosol profiles for low medium and high altitudes from the old LIDAR are shown. With the recent installation of the new LIDAR, vertical temperature measurements in the troposphere and stratosphere are made possible. A first validation of the new LIDAR has been carried out showing atmospheric wave activity above the Southern African continent for the first time. It is envisaged in the future to correlate the results obtained with the new LIDAR, especially for the low altitude, with those of the old LIDAR. Plans are also going ahead to implement an additional channel on the new LIDAR which will measure ozone concentration in the troposphere.