Breakout Summary Report
ARM/ASR User and PI Meeting
13 - 17 March 2017
Probing the Boundary Layer with ARM Lidar Systems: Implications for ASR Science and LASSO
15 March 2017
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
50
Larry Berg, William Gustafson, Rob Newsom, Andy Vogelmann
15 March 2017
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
50
Larry Berg, William Gustafson, Rob Newsom, Andy Vogelmann
Breakout Description
The breakout session included a series of short talks focused on technical aspects of the ARM Doppler and Raman lidars, upcoming field studies using ARM and other lidar systems, and science projects that use ARM data. After the series of talks, discussion concerned potential next steps for the Doppler lidar statistics VAP.Main Discussion
Specific presentations given during the session included:• ARM Raman and Doppler lidar update (Rob Newsom). This presentation included an overview of the Raman and Doppler lidar systems, descriptions and samples of data products, and a list of potential additions to the dlprofwstats4news VAP.
• Lidar and profiling use in LASSO (Andy Vogelmann). LASSO has a number of data needs related to both the development of forcing to drive the model and to evaluation. This presentation described how the remote-sensing data is being used to address both.
• Challenges with cloud identification in the BL (Connor Flynn). This presentation described ongoing issues with the micropulse lidar at the SGP and its ability to accurately measure cloud-base height and impactions of that shortcoming in various cloud masks that are routinely produced.
• The Land-Atmosphere Feedback Experiment (LAFE): theory and design (Dave Turner). This presentation provided an overview of the LAFE field study. Subsequent discussions covered some of the specific techniques that would be applied for data analysis.
• Using Doppler lidar to build long-term data sets (Larry Berg). This presentation described vertical velocity statistics derived from Doppler lidar at the SGP during cloud-free convective conditions. Some shortcomings of the lidar data were also discussed.
• What do Doppler lidar data tell us about the boundary-layer control on ShCu? (Yunyan Zhang) This presentation described the analysis of Doppler lidar data to investigate the vertical structure of vertical velocity in the subcloud layer.
The group discussion after the presentations focused on the best approaches and next steps for the dlprofwstats4news VAP, including the pros and cons of including an estimate of mixed-layer depth in the data product. Additional discussion related to LAFE and data analysis associated with that study, including averaging times that would be required to provide accurate statistics near the boundary-layer top. At these higher altitudes longer averaging times might be required due to longer length scales of motion near the boundary-layer top. There was also a brief review of the High Spectral Resolution lidar (HSRL) at the North Slope of Alaska and a review of some of the applications of the HSRL data.