H34A-06
A Novel Concept for Observing Land-Surface-Atmosphere Feedback Based on a Synergy of Scanning Lidar Systems

Wednesday, 16 December 2015: 17:40
3020 (Moscone West)
Volker Wulfmeyer1, David D Turner2, Matthias Mauder3, Andreas Behrendt1, Joachim Ingwersen4, Thilo Streck4 and Land-Atmosphere Interaction Experiments, (1)University of Hohenheim, Institute of Physics and Meteorology, Stuttgart, Germany, (2)NOAA Norman, Norman, OK, United States, (3)Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Geography and Geoecology (IfGG), Karlsruhe, Germany, (4)University of Hohenheim, Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Stuttgart, Germany
Abstract:
Improved simulations of land-surface-atmosphere interaction are fundamental for improving weather forecast and climate models. This requires observations of 2D fields of surface fluxes and the 3D structure of the atmospheric boundary layer simultaneously. A novel strategy is introduced for studying land-surface exchange and entrainment processes in the convective boundary layer (CBL) over complex terrain by means of a new generation of remote sensing systems.

The sensor synergy consists of scanning Doppler lidar (DL), water-vapor differential absorption lidar (WVDIAL), and temperature rotational Raman lidar (TRRL) systems supported by surface in-situ measurements. The 2D measurements of surface fluxes are realized by the operation of a DL, a WVDIAL, and a TRRL along the same line-of-sight (LOS) in a range-height-indicator (RHI) mode whereas the other DL is performing a series of cross track RHI scans along this LOS. This new setup enables us to determine the friction velocity as well as surface sensible and latent heat fluxes by closing the complete set of Monin-Obukhov similarity relationships under a variety of surface layer stability conditions and different land cover and soil properties. As this closure is performed at all DL crossing points along the LOS, this is a strategy towards a 2D mapping of surface fluxes entirely based on remote sensing systems. Further details are presented at the conference.

The second configuration is the simultaneous vertical profiling of vertical wind, humidity and temperature by DL, WVDIAL and TRRL so that latent heat and sensible heat flux profiles as well as a variety of different turbulent moments can be measured in the CBL. Consequently, by alternating of RHI scanning and vertical pointing modes, entrainment fluxes and surface fluxes can be measured almost simultaneously.

This novel strategy has been realized for the first time during the Surface Atmospheric Boundary Layer Exchange (SABLE) campaign in the Kraichgau region, north of the Black Forest low mountain region, in Southern Germany in August 2014 (see https://klimawandel.uni-hohenheim.de/start?&L=1). A further refined design of this experiment is planned at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM) Southern Great Plains (SGP) site in summer 2016.

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