Abstract
In this letter, we suggest a new method for measuring tropospheric temperature profiles using Rayleigh-Brillouin (RB) scattering. We report on laboratory RB scattering measurements in air, demonstrating that temperature can be retrieved from RB spectra with an absolute accuracy of better than 2 K. In addition, we show temperature profiles from 2 km to 15.3 km derived from RB spectra, measured with a high spectral resolution lidar during daytime. A comparison with radiosonde temperature measurements shows reasonable agreement. In cloud-free conditions, the temperature difference reaches up to 5 K within the boundary layer, and is smaller than 2.5 K above. The statistical error of the derived temperatures is between 0.15 K and 1.5 K.
Highlights
Temperature is a key parameter of the state of the atmosphere and temperature data play an important role in atmospheric dynamics, climatology, meteorology, and chemistry
It is a preferred method to retrieve temperatures from Rayleigh–Brillouin (RB) scattered light, as it can be done by high spectral resolution lidars (HSRL)
Atmospheric temperature can be derived by resolving the RB spectrum with high spectral resolution filters, such as atomic vapor cells [4] or Fabry–Pérot interferometers [5], and relating the measured spectrum to an appropriate line shape model
Summary
Temperature is a key parameter of the state of the atmosphere and temperature data play an important role in atmospheric dynamics, climatology, meteorology, and chemistry. In order to retrieve temperature from measured RB profiles, they have to be analyzed with the Tenti S6 model in a certain optimization procedure as for instance a least-squares fit with temperature as free fitting parameter As for such method it is an important issue how the 2% model deviation transfers into a temperature error. Based on the results from the laboratory and atmospheric studies, a novel lidar temperature receiver is suggested and is currently under development at the German Aerospace center DLR (see section 4). It is based on a Fizeau interferometer used to resolve the RB spectrum without any scanning procedures
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
