Characterization of the planetary boundary layer during SAMUM-2 by means of lidar measurements

Silke Gross, Josef Gasteiger, Volker Freudenthaler, Matthias Wiegner, Alexander Geiss, Alexander Schladitz, Carlos Toledano, Konrad Kandler, Matthias Tesche, Albert Ansmann, Alfred Wiedensohler

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    32 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Measurements with two Raman-depolarization lidars of the Meteorological Institute of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany, performed during SAMUM-2, were used to characterize the planetary boundary layer (PBL) over Praia, Cape Verde. A novel approach was used to determine the volume fraction of dust υd in the PBL. This approach primarily relies on accurate measurements of the linear depolarization ratio. Comparisons with independent in situ measurements showed the reliability of this approach. Based on our retrievals, two different phases could be distinguished within the measurement period of almost one month. The first (22-31 January 2008) was characterized by high aerosol optical depth (AOD) in the PBL and large υd > 95%. During the second phase, the AOD in the PBL was considerably lower and υd less than ~40%. These findings were in very good agreement with ground based in situ measurements, when ambient volume fractions are considered that were calculated from the actual measurements of the dry volume fraction. Only in cases when dust was not the dominating aerosol component (second phase), effects due to hygroscopic growth became important.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)695-705
    Number of pages11
    JournalTellus Series B-Chemical and Physical Meteorology
    Volume63
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2011

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