Matthew Hayman

Polarization lidar operation for measuring backscatter phase matrices of oriented scatterers

We describe implementation and demonstration of a polarization technique adapted for lidar to measure all unique elements of the volume backscatter phase matrix. This capability allows for detection of preferential orientation within a scattering volume, and may improve scattering inversions on oriented ice crystals. The technique is enabled using a Mueller formalism commonly employed in polarimetry, which does not require the lidar instrument be polarization preserving. Instead, the accuracy of the polarization measurements are limited by the accuracy of the instrument characterization. A high spectral resolution lidar at the National Center for Atmospheric Research was modified to demonstrate this polarization technique. Two observations where the instrument is tilted off zenith are presented. In the first case, the lidar detects flattened large raindrops oriented along the same direction due to drag forces from falling. The second case is an ice cloud approximately 5 km above lidar base that contains preferentially oriented ice crystals in a narrow altitude band.

General description of polarization in lidar using Stokes vectors and polar decomposition of Mueller matrices.

Polarization measurements have become nearly indispensible in lidar cloud and aerosol studies. Despite polarizations widespread use in lidar, its theoretical description has been widely varying in accuracy and completeness. Incomplete polarization lidar descriptions invariably result in poor accountability for scatterer properties and instrument effects, reducing data accuracy and disallowing the intercomparison of polarization lidar data between different systems. We introduce here the Stokes vector lidar equation, which is a full description of polarization in lidar from laser output to detector. We then interpret this theoretical description in the context of forward polar decomposition of Mueller matrices where distinct polarization attributes of diattenuation, retardance, and depolarization are elucidated. This decomposition can be applied to scattering matrices, where volumes consisting of randomly oriented particles are strictly depolarizing, while oriented ice crystals can be diattenuating, retarding, and depolarizing. For instrument effects we provide a description of how different polarization attributes will impact lidar measurements. This includes coupling effects due to retarding and depolarization attributes of the receiver, which have no description in scalar representations of polarization lidar. We also describe how the effects of polarizance in the receiver can result in nonorthogonal polarization detection channels. This violates one of the most common assumptions in polarization lidar operation.

Polarization lidar observations of backscatter phase matrices from oriented ice crystals and rain

Oriented particles can exhibit different polarization properties than randomly oriented particles. These properties cannot be resolved by conventional polarization lidar systems and are capable of corrupting the interpretation of depolarization ratio measurements. Additionally, the typical characteristics of backscatter phase matrices from atmospheric oriented particles are not well established. The National Center for Atmospheric Research High Spectral Resolution Lidar was outfitted in spring of 2012 to measure the backscatter phase matrix, allowing it to fully characterize the polarization properties of oriented particles. The lidar data analyzed here considers operation at 4°, 22° and 32° off zenith in Boulder, CO, USA (40.0°N,105.2°W). The HSRL has primarily observed oriented ice crystal signatures at lidar tilt angles near 32° off zenith which corresponds to an expected peak in backscatter from horizontally oriented plates. The maximum occurrence frequency of oriented ice crystals is measured at 5 km, where 2% of clouds produced significant oriented ice signatures by exhibiting diattenuation in their scattering matrices. The HSRL also observed oriented particle characteristics of rain at all three tilt angles. Oriented signatures in rain are common at all three tilt angles. As many as 70% of all rain observations made at 22° off zenith exhibited oriented signatures. The oriented rain signatures exhibit significant linear diattenuation and retardance.

Polarization lidar at summit, Greenland, for the detection of cloud phase and particle orientation

Accurate measurements of cloud properties are necessary to document the full range of cloud conditions and characteristics. The Cloud, Aerosol Polarization and Backscatter Lidar (CAPABL) has been developed to address this need by measuring depolarization, particle orientation, and the backscatter of cloudsandaerosols.Thelidar islocated at Summit,Greenland(72.68N, 38.58W; 3200 m MSL), as part of the Integrated Characterization of Energy, Clouds, Atmospheric State, and Precipitation at Summit Project and NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory’s Global Monitoring Division’s lidar network. Here, the instrument is described with particular emphasis placed upon the implementation of new polarization methods developed to measure particle orientation and improve the overall accuracy of lidar depolarization measurements. Initial results from the lidar are also shown to demonstrate the ability of the lidar to observe cloud properties.

Demonstration of a diode-laser-based high spectral resolution lidar (HSRL) for quantitative profiling of clouds and aerosols

We present a demonstration of a diode-laser-based high spectral resolution lidar. It is capable of performing calibrated retrievals of aerosol and cloud optical properties at a 150 m range resolution with less than 1 minute integration time over an approximate range of 12 km during day and night. This instrument operates at 780 nm, a wavelength that is well established for reliable semiconductor lasers and detectors, and was chosen because it corresponds to the D2 rubidium absorption line. A heated vapor reference cell of isotopic rubidium 87 is used as an effective and reliable aerosol signal blocking filter in the instrument. In principle, the diode-laser-based high spectral resolution lidar can be made cost competitive with elastic backscatter lidar systems, yet delivers a significant improvement in data quality through direct retrieval of quantitative optical properties of clouds and aerosols.

Testing and Validation of a Micro-Pulse, Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) for Measuring the Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Water Vapor in the Lower Atmosphere

A compact, field-deployable, micro-pulse DIAL for measuring water vapor in the lower troposphere has been developed and validated at field campaigns. Details of the intercomparisons and improvements since the field studies are discussed.

Response Time Characteristics of the Fast-2D Optical Array Probe Detector Board

AbstractTwo-dimensional optical array probes are commonly used for imaging raindrops and ice particles on research aircraft. The ability of these probes to accurately measure particle concentration and size partly depends on the response characteristics of the detection system. If the response characteristics are too slow, then small particles are less likely to be detected and the associated effective sample volume decreases. In an effort to better understand the sample volumes of optical array probes at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the temporal response of the Fast-2D optical array probe detector board from optical input on the detector to digitization was characterized. The analysis suggests that the board electronics have a response time constant consistently near 50 ns. However, there is also a slow decay term that conforms to a decay rate. The amplitude of this slow function can impact the probe response, varying the minimum detectable pulse width between 60 and 150 ns. Also, the am...

Laser remote sensing network to measure water vapor in the lower atmosphere

Water vapor and its variability is known to be a significant driver of weather and climate. It is a major factor in the development of severe weather and the most potent greenhouse gas in the atmosphere influencing both the environment and the energy sector. However water vapor is spatially and temporal heterogeneous and therefore difficult measure. To address this well-documented monitoring inadequacy, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and Montana State Univeristy (MSU) are developing a test network of five laser remote sensing instruments to continuously measure high-vertical-resolution water vapor in the lower atmosphere. The micro-pulse differential absorption lidar instruments are low-cost, operate unattended, eye-safe, and have been demonstrated to be accurate.

Demonstration of a low-cost high spectral resolution lidar for quantitative cloud and aerosol profiling

High spectral resolution lidar is a technique that enables disentangling atmospheric extinction and backscatter observed by lidar to obtain calibrated retrieval of backscatter coefficient and extinction coefficient of clouds and aerosols. Due to the performance requirements on the technique, HSRL are relatively expensive such that large networks of the instruments is considered cost prohibitive. At the National Center for Atmospheric Research, we have developed and demonstrated a low-cost HSRL based on a diode laser transmitter and a rubidium cell narrowband filter. This system architecture is approximately an order of magnitude less expensive than typical HSRL with very low maintenance requirements, making it ideal for cloud and aerosol networks.

The O2/N2 Ratio and CO2 Airborne Southern Ocean Study

AbstractThe Southern Ocean plays a critical role in the global climate system by mediating atmosphere–ocean partitioning of heat and carbon dioxide. However, Earth system models are demonstrably deficient in the Southern Ocean, leading to large uncertainties in future air–sea CO2 flux projections under climate warming and incomplete interpretations of natural variability on interannual to geologic time scales. Here, we describe a recent aircraft observational campaign, the O2/N2 Ratio and CO2 Airborne Southern Ocean (ORCAS) study, which collected measurements over the Southern Ocean during January and February 2016. The primary research objective of the ORCAS campaign was to improve observational constraints on the seasonal exchange of atmospheric carbon dioxide and oxygen with the Southern Ocean. The campaign also included measurements of anthropogenic and marine biogenic reactive gases; high-resolution, hyperspectral ocean color imaging of the ocean surface; and microphysical data relevant for understan...