Aerosol Backscatter Ratio Research Articles

A multi-scenario Lagrangian trajectory analysis to identify source regions of the Asian tropopause aerosol layer on the Indian subcontinent in August 2016

Abstract. The Asian tropopause aerosol layer (ATAL) is present during the Asian summer monsoon season affecting the radiative balance of the atmosphere. However, the source regions and transport pathways of ATAL particles are still uncertain. Here, we investigate transport pathways from different regions at the model boundary layer (MBL) to the ATAL by combining two Lagrangian transport models (CLaMS, Chemical Lagrangian Model of the Stratosphere; MPTRAC, Massive-Parallel Trajectory Calculations) with balloon-borne measurements of the ATAL performed by the Compact Optical Backscatter Aerosol Detector (COBALD) above Nainital (India) in August 2016. Trajectories are initialised at the measured location of the ATAL and calculated 90 d backwards in time to investigate the relation between the measured, daily averaged, aerosol backscatter ratio and source regions at the MBL. Different simulation scenarios are performed to find differences and robust patterns when the reanalysis data (ERA5 or ERA-Interim), the trajectory model, the vertical coordinate (kinematic and diabatic approach) or the convective parameterisation are varied. The robust finding among all scenarios is that the largest continental air mass contributions originate from the Tibetan Plateau and the Indian subcontinent (mostly the Indo-Gangetic Plain), and the largest maritime air mass contributions in Asia come from the western Pacific (e.g. related to tropical cyclones). Additionally, all simulation scenarios indicate that the transport of maritime air from the tropical western Pacific to the region of the ATAL lowers the backscatter ratio (BSR) of the ATAL, while most scenarios indicate that the transport of polluted air from the Indo-Gangetic Plain increases the BSR. While the results corroborate key findings from previous ERA-Interim-based studies, they also highlight the variability in the contributions of different MBL regions to the ATAL depending on different simulation scenarios.

Rayleigh Doppler Lidar Technology Based on a Quadruple Dual-pass Fabry–Perot Interferometer

A novel Rayleigh Doppler lidar technology based on a quadruple dual-pass Fabry–Perot interferometer (FPI) that can accurately measure wind field, temperature and aerosol backscatter ratio from the troposphere to lower stratosphere is proposed. This study aims to analyse the detection principle of wind speed, temperature and aerosol backscatter ratio in detail and obtain their measurement error formulas. The structure of this type of lidar is studied and designed. The FPI consists of two edge channels FPI-1 and FPI-2, aerosol channel FPI-M and locking channel FPI-L. FPI-1, FPI-2 and FPI-M use a dual-pass optical path, whereas FPI-L uses a single-pass optical path. The parameters of FPI are optimised as follows: the free spectral spacing (FSR) is 12 GHz, the FWHM of FPI-1 and FPI-2 are both 2.2 GHz, the peak-to-peak interval of FPI-1 and FPI-2 is 5.8 GHz, the FWHM of FPI-M and FPI-L are both 1.2 GHz, the peak-to-peak interval of FPI-M and FPI-1 is 2.9 GHz and the peak-to-peak interval of FPI-L and FPI-1 is 2.3 GHz. Under simulated atmospheric conditions, for a daytime sky background brightness of 0.3 Wsr−1m−2nm−1 at 355 nm, using a laser with a pulse energy of 350 mJ and a repetition frequency of 50 Hz and a telescope with a 0.45-m aperture, with a vertical range resolution of 30 m at 0–10 km, 100 m at 10–20 km and 500 m at 20–35km, temporal resolution of 30 min, zenith angle of 0° for temperature and aerosol backscatter ratio detection and temporal resolution of 3 min and zenith angle of 30° for radial wind speed detection, the detection performance of the designed Rayleigh Doppler lidar is determined. The simulation results show that the measurement errors of aerosol backscatter ratio, temperature and radial wind speed of the lidar system in the daytime and night-time are less than 4.36 × 10−3 and 3.32 × 10−3 (excluding cirrus cloud area), 4.0 K and 3.0 K and 3.8 m/s and 1.9 m/s, respectively, from an altitude of 0.06 to 35km.

Calibration method of Fernald inversion for aerosol backscattering coefficient profiles via multi-wavelength Raman–Mie lidar

Mie scattering lidar is widely used in the detection of atmospheric aerosol optical properties, however, the inversion algorithm is lack of accuracy, which is mainly caused by the inaccurate calibration of reference condition in Fernald inversion. Here, we propose a multi-wavelength aerosol backscattering ratio parameterized-calibration method (MABP-CM) based on parameterized equations for reference condition calibration of Fernald inversion. The aerosol backscatter ratios at 355 nm, 532 nm, and 1064 nm wavelengths are respectively calculated from the aerosol size distribution of aerial survey data. We find that there is a positive correlation between the backscatter ratios at different wavelengths, and the parameterized equations are established. The parameterized equations can be used as conversion factors of aerosol backscatter ratio at different wavelengths, which is beneficial to improving the calibration accuracy of multi-wavelength backscatter ratios at reference height in Fernald inversion. The Raman inversion is used to retrieve the 355 nm aerosol backscattering coefficient and aerosol backscatter ratio. Then, combined with MABP-CM, the 532 nm and 1064 nm aerosol backscatter ratios at reference height are respectively derived, to obtain the backscattering coefficients with Fernald backward integration equation. With the improved method, the reference height is allowed not to be at clear atmosphere, and the reference condition can still be accurately calibrated. Simulation verification of multi-wavelength backscattering coefficients is carried out with aerial survey data. Our simulation suggests that MABP-CM can reduce the error of 532 nm backscattering coefficient to ±20%, and reduce the error of 1064 nm backscattering coefficient to ±40%. Multi-wavelength aerosol backscattering coefficients can be simultaneously retrieved with high accuracy on cloudy and heavily haze days with MABP-CM. Finally, the multi-wavelength Raman–Mie lidar is used to observe the short-term and long-term changes of aerosol backscattering coefficient on clear and cloudy days.

Increase in the Aerosol Backscattering Ratio in the Lower Mesosphere in 2019–2021 and Its Effect on Temperature Measurements with the Rayleigh Method

Increase in the Aerosol Backscattering Ratio in the Lower Mesosphere in 2019–2021 and Its Effect on Temperature Measurements with the Rayleigh Method

Australian Black Summer Smoke Observed by Lidar at the French Antarctic Station Dumont d’Urville

AbstractIn the follow‐up of the Australian ”Black Summer” event that persisted from August 2019 to March 2020, we present the optical properties of the stratospheric aerosols injected into the atmosphere by these wildfires. The outbreak of pyrocumulonimbus (PyroCb) activity triggered between 2019/12/29 and 2020/01/04 has raised the stratospheric aerosol load of the Southern Hemisphere to unprecedented levels. Long‐range transport brought some of the plumes down to the Antarctic region, where general circulation patterns kept them circling around the continent. The 532 nm Rayleigh/Mie/Raman ground‐based lidar of the French Antarctic station Dumont d’Urville (66.6°S–140°E) acquired unprecedented time series of these carbonaceous aerosols starting approximately 20 days after the injection and up to the most recent measurements in October 2019 where local radiosonde reported anomalous ozone depletion as compared to the decadal average. The lidar provides a first and unique time series at high vertical and temporal resolution, complemented by satellite measurements from Ozone Monitoring Instrument, Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite, and Microwave Limb Sounder. Aerosol backscatter ratio decreases from 1.9 to 1.2 between January and June 2020. Aerosol origin and persistence are characterized, as well as their optical properties and vertical distribution over several months.

Scavenging of Black Carbon Aerosols by Radiation Fog in Urban Central China

Radiation fog episodes are characterized by aerosol radiative properties measured at Hefei in urban central China, which hopefully benefits numerical weather prediction and air quality improvement for local governments. In this study, a high mean aerosol optical depth (AOD) is seen over Hefei during the sampling period, whereas an AOD of ~3.0 at 550 nm is observed during the fog episodes. We redefine the fog scavenging coefficient based on its starting and ending points in time, and a black carbon (BC) scavenging coefficient of 30% is observed. Meanwhile, the fog process cannot reduce aerosol number concentrations at size bins between 0.5 and 0.6 μm, whereas a mean particle scavenging coefficient of 21% at sizes within 0.6–1 μm is seen. Significantly large median aerosol scattering coefficient (2690 Mm−1) and absorption coefficient (446 Mm−1) at 550 nm, and low scattering Angstrom exponent in fog are observed, while distinctive particle size distributions between fog and haze are shown. Particle mean size distribution in fog is lower than that in haze at size bins between 0.7 and 2.1 μm, whereas the reverse is true for sizes within 0.5–0.7 μm and larger than 2.1 μm. Aerosol scattering during fog episodes undergoes a bigger increase than particle absorption, and this increase of scattering in fog is even higher than in haze. Median single scattering albedos of 0.86, 0.82, and 0.76 at 550 nm and aerosol radiative forcing efficiencies of −15.0, −14.0, and −10.0 W/m2 are seen for fog, haze and clear periods, respectively, and more negative radiative forcing efficiency emphasizes the significance of fog episodes on climate forcing. Our study clearly reveals the changes of aerosol radiative properties during radiation fog, particularly a synchronous variation of fog aerosol backscattering ratio with the visibility, indicating that more large particles are formed with fog becoming thicker and are scavenged with the dissipation of fog.

Increase in the aerosol backscattering ratio at lower mesosphere in 2019-2021 and its influence on the temperature measurements by the Rayleigh method

Increase in the aerosol backscattering ratio at lower mesosphere in 2019-2021 and its influence on the temperature measurements by the Rayleigh method

Quad-Fabry-Perot etalon based Rayleigh Doppler lidar for 0.2-60km altitude wind, temperature and aerosol accurate measurement

Rayleigh Doppler lidar based on a quad Fabry-Perot etalon (FPE) is proposed that is capable of accurately detecting wind speed, as well as temperature and aerosol from 0.2 to 60km altitude. The structure of lidar is designed and its measurement principle is analyzed. One of the four FPEs, i.e. FPE-L is used for locking and measuring the outgoing laser frequency, and the other three, i.e. FPE-1, -2 and -3 form a three-stage FPE. The first-stage FPE (FPE-1) can effectively filter out Mie backscattering signal, thereby suppressing its effects on wind measurement and measuring the aerosol backscatter ratio as well. The transmission spectra of the second- and third-stage FPEs (FPE-2,-3) form double edge for simultaneous wind and temperature measurements by using Rayleigh backscattering signal. The parameters of the quad FPE are optimized. The FWHM and relative peak position of FPE-1,-2,-3,-L are 0.6, 1.2, 1.2, 0.6GHz and 0, -1, 1, 0.3GHz, respectively. The performance of the proposed lidar is simulated and results show that for 0.3WSr−1m-2nm−1@355nm sky brightness, by using a 350mJ pulse energy, 50Hz repetition frequency laser and a 0.8m aperture telescope, with temporal resolution of 2min@0.2∼20km, 20min@20∼60km and vertical resolution of 45m@0.2∼10km, 90m@10∼ 20km, 180m@20∼40km, 1km@40∼60km, the measurement errors of temperature, aerosol backscattering ratio and vertical wind speed are below 5.3K, 3.0×10-3, 1.1m/s in nighttime and below 14.6K, 8.1×10-3, 2.5m/s in daytime from 0.2 to 60km altitude; the measurement error of two other orthogonal LOS wind speed with fixed zenith angle of 25.8° is below 1.3m/s in nighttime and 3.5m/s in daytime within the LOS wind speed dynamic range of ±50m/s from 0.2 to 60km altitude.

Demonstration of a combined differential absorption and high spectral resolution lidar for profiling atmospheric temperature.

This work presents the first demonstration of atmospheric temperature measurement using the differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technique. While DIAL is routinely used to measure atmospheric gases such as ozone and water vapor, almost no success has been found in using DIAL to measure atmospheric temperature. Attempts to measure temperature using a well-mixed gas like oxygen (O2) have largely failed based on a need for quantitative ancillary measurements of water vapor and atmospheric aerosols. Here, a lidar is described and demonstrated that simultaneously measures O2 absorption, water vapor number density, and aerosol backscatter ratio. This combination of measurements allows for the first measurements of atmospheric temperature with useful accuracy. DIAL temperature measurements are presented to an altitude of 4 km with 225 m and 30 min resolution with accuracy better than 3K. DIAL temperature data is compared to a co-located Raman lidar system and radiosondes to evaluate the system's performance. Finally, an analysis of current performance characteristics is presented, which highlights pathways for future improvement of this proof-of-concept instrument.

Year-round stratospheric aerosol backscatter ratios calculated from lidar measurements above northern Norway

Abstract. We present a new method for calculating backscatter ratios of the stratospheric sulfate aerosol (SSA) layer from daytime and nighttime lidar measurements. Using this new method we show a first year-round dataset of stratospheric aerosol backscatter ratios at high latitudes. The SSA layer is located at altitudes between the tropopause and about 30 km. It is of fundamental importance for the radiative balance of the atmosphere. We use a state-of-the-art Rayleigh–Mie–Raman lidar at the Arctic Lidar Observatory for Middle Atmosphere Research (ALOMAR) station located in northern Norway (69∘ N, 16∘ E; 380 m a.s.l.). For nighttime measurements the aerosol backscatter ratios are derived using elastic and inelastic backscatter of the emitted laser wavelengths 355, 532 and 1064 nm. The setup of the lidar allows measurements with a resolution of about 5 min in time and 150 m in altitude to be performed in high quality, which enables the identification of multiple sub-layers in the stratospheric aerosol layer of less than 1 km vertical thickness. We introduce a method to extend the dataset throughout the summer when measurements need to be performed under permanent daytime conditions. For that purpose we approximate the backscatter ratios from color ratios of elastic scattering and apply a correction function. We calculate the correction function using the average backscatter ratio profile at 355 nm from about 1700 h of nighttime measurements from the years 2000 to 2018. Using the new method we finally present a year-round dataset based on about 4100 h of measurements during the years 2014 to 2017.

Observational evidence of particle hygroscopic growth in the upper troposphere–lower stratosphere (UTLS) over the Tibetan Plateau

Abstract. We measured the vertical profiles of backscatter ratio (BSR) using the balloon-borne, lightweight Compact Optical Backscatter AerosoL Detector (COBALD) instruments above Linzhi, located in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau, in the summer of 2014. An enhanced aerosol layer in the upper troposphere–lower stratosphere (UTLS), with BSR (455 nm) > 1.1 and BSR (940 nm) > 1.4, was observed. The color index (CI) of the enhanced aerosol layer, defined as the ratio of aerosol backscatter ratios (ABSRs) at wavelengths of 940 and 455 nm, varied from 4 to 8, indicating the prevalence of fine particles with a mode radius of less than 0.1 µm. We find that unlike the very small particles (mode radius smaller than 0.04 µm) at low relative humidity (RHi < 40 %), the relatively large particles in the aerosol layer were generally very hydrophilic as their size increased dramatically with relative humidity. This result indicates that water vapor can play a very important role in increasing the size of fine particles in the UTLS over the Tibetan Plateau. Our observations provide observation-based evidence supporting the idea that aerosol particle hygroscopic growth is an important factor influencing the radiative properties of the Asian Tropopause Aerosol Layer (ATAL) during the Asian summer monsoon.

Twin scanning lidars for accurate measurement of lower tropospheric aerosols by numerical approximation.

In order to improve accuracy of aerosol measurements, a novel method using twin scanning lidars is presented; this method is able to overcome the incomplete overlap range of vertical lidar as well as provide 2D spatial distributions. The scanning lidar setups in the opposite directions are employed as remote sensing tools. Aerosol measurements are performed with cross scanning from the ground to the height of interest. Aerosol optical properties are retrieved using numerical approximation, in which differences between the measured values and the constructed values of the logarithmic range-square-corrected lidar data in the cross-scanning region are minimized. In the data retrieval, we utilize a matrix formulation, in which a Cartesian 2D range-height-indicator diagram is constructed. To verify this method, scanning measurements by ultraviolet Mie scanning lidar performed at different time intervals were taken as the cross-scanning measurements from the twin scanning lidars. With the retrieved spatial distributions of aerosol optical properties, such as aerosol backscatter, aerosol extinction, and lidar ratio, the regional aerosol studies showed that aerosol loading was relatively small and in the presence of multiple layers, which may be influenced by airflow from long-range transportation and cause a large impact on the local environment. To conclude, the presented method using twin scanning lidars is feasible for aerosol measurement in the application of horizontally atmospheric inhomogeneity.

Spectral analysis made by Mach–Zehnder interferometer for atmospheric backscattering

The ability to analyze the spectra of 532 nm/354.7 nm backscatter signal of atmosphere for Mach-Zehdner interferometer is demonstrated. The Mach-Zehdner interferometer accepts return signal. The phase difference and interference contrast are measured, which are formed by the interferometer’s double arm, polarization and quadro-channels, and Doppler frequency shift of atmosphere and backscatter ratio of aerosol backscatter to molecular backscatter are derived. Transmitter laser can operate with multi-longitudinal mode, and Mie backscattering and Rayleigh backscattering analysis spectrograph is free from locking to laser frequency. Analysis method of simultaneous measurements atmosphere aerosol backscattering ratio profile and wind profile are also discussed. If Mach-Zehnder interferometer is employed as atmospheric backscatter signal’s frequency spectrum analyzer, this high spectral resolution lidar will become an atmosphere analysis instrument with excellent performance and anticipant prospect.

Investigation of a field-widened Mach–Zehnder receiver to extend Fe Doppler lidar wind measurements from the thermosphere to the ground

A receiver employing a field-widened Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is investigated for extending the wind measurement range of a narrow-band Fe Doppler lidar operating at 372 nm from its existing measurement range in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) down to near the ground. This design uses the multiple transmitted frequencies available from the base Fe Doppler lidar in combination with a novel MZI receiver to make a measurement of the Doppler shift that rejects the influence of atmospheric parameters such as the aerosol backscatter ratio, temperature, and pressure of the lidar volume and receiver parameters such as the geometric overlap, the chopper function, and any other factor affecting the proportion of the signal in both channels of the MZI equally. A ratio is constructed from the three frequencies and two channels of the interferometer that exhibits a measurement performance of 1.75 times the Cramer-Rao lower bound, which is comparable to the dual MZI (DMZ) while preserving the insensitivity to backscatter spectrum of the quad MZI (QMZ). In addition, we show how the use of multiple transmitted frequencies can yield a wind measurement wherein the accuracy is insensitive to the optical imperfection and misalignment of the MZI or any other factor that affects the contrast, though the precision is still impacted by the fringe contrast. Simply adding a second surface mirror of a particular thickness to the basic tilted MZI can allow the field of the MZI to be widened sufficiently for most resonance Doppler lidar receivers in operation today. Provided that the detection sensitivity in each channel is known, the original resonance fluorescence and Rayleigh scattering signals can be recovered by simply scaling and adding the contributions from both channels. Consequently, the wind and temperature from the MLT region and the temperature from the Rayleigh region can be derived alongside the Rayleigh Doppler wind measurement without compromising the measurement precision. Using actual data obtained recently from a Major Research Instrumentation Fe Doppler lidar, we show the expected measurement performance and some potential scientific avenues for this embodiment of a "whole-atmosphere" lidar system.

Exploration of Whole Atmosphere Lidar: Mach-zehnder Receiver to Extend Fe Doppler Lidar Wind Measurements from the Thermosphere to the Ground

A receiver employing a field-widened Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is investigated for extending the wind measurement range of a narrowband Fe Doppler (372 nm) lidar from its existing measurement range in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) down to the ground. This design uses the multiple transmitted frequencies available from the base Fe Doppler lidar in combination with an MZI receiver to make a measurement of the Doppler shift from Rayleigh-Mie scattering that is independent of aerosol backscatter ratio, temperature and pressure of the lidar volume and also independent of geometric overlap, the chopper function and any other factor affecting the signal in both MZI channels equally. A ratio is constructed from the three frequencies and two channels of the interferometer that exhibits a measurement performance of 1.75 times the Cramer-Rao lower bound, which is comparable to the dual MZI (DMZ) while preserving the insensitivity to backscatter spectrum of the quad MZI (QMZ). Using actual data obtained recently from the Fe Doppler lidar, we show the expected measurement performance of this whole atmosphere lidar instrument concept.

Quantification of trans-Atlantic dust transport from seven-year (2007–2013) record of CALIPSO lidar measurements

The trans-Atlantic dust transport has important implications for human and ecosystem health, the terrestrial and oceanic biogeochemical cycle, weather systems, and climate. This study provides an observation-based multiyear estimate of trans-Atlantic dust transport using a 7-year (2007–2013) record of the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) measurements of the three dimensional distribution of aerosol backscatter, extinction and depolarization ratio in both cloud-free and above-cloud conditions. We estimate that on a basis of the 7-year average and integration over 10°S–30°N, 182Tga−1 dust leaves the coast of North Africa at 15°W, of which 132Tga−1 and 43Tga−1 reaches 35°W and 75°W, respectively. These flux estimates have an overall known uncertainty of ±(45–70)%. Because of lack of reliable observations, uncertainties associated with the diurnal variation of dust and the missing below-cloud dust cannot be quantified. Significant seasonal variations are observed in both the magnitude of total dust mass flux and its meridional and vertical distributions. The interannual variability of annual dust mass flux is highly anti-correlated with the prior-year Sahel Precipitation Index. Using only cloud-free aerosol observations to calculate dust mass flux could introduce a high bias when compared with all-sky conditions that include both cloud-free and above-cloud aerosol observations. The bias is about 20% at 35°W and 75°W in boreal winter and spring based on the 7-year average, as long as dust within and below low-level clouds is negligible.

Observations of atmospheric water vapor, aerosol, and cloud with a Raman lidar

To realize the improvement of signal-to-noise ratio and rejection rate for elastic Mie-Rayleigh signals, a set of dichroic mirrors and narrow-band interference filters with high efficiency was proposed to constitute a new spectroscopy for atmospheric water vapor, aerosol, and cloud studies. Based on the curves of signal-to-noise ratio at three different channels, the actual rejection rates of elastic Mie-Rayleigh signals at the Raman channels were found to be higher than eight orders of magnitude with the cloudy conditions. Continuous nighttime observations showed that the statistical error of the water vapor mixing ratio was <10% at a height of 2.3 km with an aerosol backscatter ratio of 17. Temporal variations of water vapor and aerosols were obtained under the conditions of cloud and cloud-free, the change relevance between aerosol and water vapor was analyzed, and the growth characteristics of water vapor and aerosols showed a good agreement within the cloud layers. Obtained results indicate achievement of the continuous detection of water vapor, aerosol, and cloud with a high efficiency and stability by Raman lidar.

Long-term trends in aerosol optical characteristics in the Po Valley, Italy

Abstract. Aerosol properties have been monitored by ground-based in situ and remote sensing measurements at the station for atmospheric research located in Ispra, on the edge of the Po Valley, for almost one decade. In situ measurements are performed according to Global Atmosphere Watch recommendations, and quality is assured through the participation in regular inter-laboratory comparisons. Sun-photometer data are produced by the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET). Data show significant decreasing trends over the 2004–2010 period for a number of variables, including particulate matter (PM) mass concentration, aerosol scattering, backscattering and absorption coefficients, and aerosol optical thickness (AOT). In situ measurement data show no significant trends in the aerosol backscatter ratio, but they do show a significant decreasing trend of about −0.7 ± 0.3% yr−1 in the aerosol single scattering albedo (SSA) in the visible light range. Similar trends are observed in the SSA retrieved from sun-photometer measurements. Correlations appear between in situ PM mass concentration and aerosol scattering coefficient, on the one hand, and elemental carbon (EC) concentration and aerosol absorption coefficient, on the other hand. However, no increase in the EC / PM ratio was observed, which could have explained the decrease in SSA. The application of a simple approximation to calculate the direct radiative forcing by aerosols suggests a significant diminution in their cooling effect, mainly due to the decrease in AOT. Applying the methodology we present to those sites, where the necessary suite of measurements is available, would provide important information to inform future policies for air-quality enhancement and fast climate change mitigation.

Observations of surface radiation and stratospheric processes at Thule Air Base, Greenland, during the IPY

&lt;p&gt;Ground-based measurements of atmospheric parameters have been carried out for more than 20 years at the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC) station at Thule Air Base (76.5°N, 68.8°W), on the north-western coast of Greenland. Various instruments dedicated to the study of the lower and middle polar atmosphere are installed at Thule in the framework of a long standing collaboration among Danish, Italian, and US research institutes and universities. This effort aims at monitoring the composition, structure and dynamics of the polar stratosphere, and at studying the Arctic energy budget and the role played by different factors, such as aerosols, water vapour, and surface albedo. During the International Polar Year (IPY), in winter 2008-2009, an intensive measurement campaign was conducted at Thule within the framework of the IPY project “Ozone layer and UV radiation in a changing climate evaluated during IPY” (ORACLE-O3) which sought to improve our understanding of the complex mechanisms that lead to the Arctic stratospheric O&lt;span&gt;&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;/span&gt; depletion. The campaign involved a lidar system, measuring aerosol backscatter and depolarization ratios up to 35 km and atmospheric temperature profiles from 25 to 70 km altitude, a ground-based millimeter-wave spectrometer (GBMS) used to derive stratospheric mixing ratio profiles of different chemical species involved in the stratospheric ozone depletion cycle, and then ground-based radiometers and a Cimel sunphotometer to study the Arctic radiative budget at the surface. The observations show that the surface radiation budget is mainly regulated by the longwave component throughout most of the year. Clouds have a significant impact contributing to enhance the role of longwave radiation. Besides clouds, water vapour seasonal changes produce the largest modification in the shortwave component at the surface, followed by changes in surface albedo and in aerosol amounts. For what concerns the middle atmosphere, during the first part of winter 2008-2009 the cold polar vortex allowed for the formation of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) which were observed above Thule by means of the lidar. This period was also characterized by GBMS measurements of low values of O&lt;span&gt;&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;/span&gt; due to the catalytic reactions prompted by the PSCs. In mid-January, as the most intense Sudden Stratospheric Warming event ever observed in the Arctic occurred, GBMS and lidar measurements of O&lt;span&gt;&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;/span&gt;, N&lt;span&gt;&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;/span&gt;O, CO and temperature described its evolution as it propagated from the upper atmosphere to the lower stratosphere.&lt;/p&gt;

Retrieval of aerosol backscatter, extinction, and lidar ratio from Raman lidar with optimal estimation

Abstract. Optimal estimation retrieval is a form of nonlinear regression which determines the most probable circumstances that produced a given observation, weighted against any prior knowledge of the system. This paper applies the technique to the estimation of aerosol backscatter and extinction (or lidar ratio) from two-channel Raman lidar observations. It produces results from simulated and real data consistent with existing Raman lidar analyses and additionally returns a more rigorous estimate of its uncertainties while automatically selecting an appropriate resolution without the imposition of artificial constraints. Backscatter is retrieved at the instrument's native resolution with an uncertainty between 2 and 20%. Extinction is less well constrained, retrieved at a resolution of 0.1–1 km depending on the quality of the data. The uncertainty in extinction is &gt; 15%, in part due to the consideration of short 1 min integrations, but is comparable to fair estimates of the error when using the standard Raman lidar technique. The retrieval is then applied to several hours of observation on 19 April 2010 of ash from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption. A depolarising ash layer is found with a lidar ratio of 20–30 sr, much lower values than observed by previous studies. This potentially indicates a growth of the particles after 12–24 h within the planetary boundary layer. A lower concentration of ash within a residual layer exhibited a backscatter of 10 Mm−1 sr−1 and lidar ratio of 40 sr.