https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201611923026
Arrange and Average Algorithm for Microphysical Retrievals with A “3β+3α” Lidar Configuration
1 Science Systems and Applications, Inc., NASA Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 475, Hampton, Virginia 23681-2199, USA,
2 University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield, AL10 9AB Hertfordshire, UK
3 NASA Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 401 A, Hampton, Virginia 23681-2199, USA
* Email: eduard.v.chemyakin@nasa.gov
Published online: 7 June 2016
We present the results of a comparison study in which a simple, automated, and unsupervised algorithm, which we call the arrange and average algorithm, was used to infer microphysical parameters (complex refractive index (CRI), effective radius, total number, surface area, and volume concentrations) of atmospheric aerosol particles. The algorithm normally uses backscatter coefficients (β) at 355, 532, and 1064 nm and extinction coefficients (α) at 355 and 532 nm as input information. We compared the performance of the algorithm for the existing “3β+α” and potential “3β+3α” configurations of a multiwavelength aerosol Raman lidar or highspectral-resolution lidar (HSRL). The “3β+3α” configuration uses an extra extinction coefficient at 1064 nm. Testing of the algorithm is based on synthetic optical data that are computed from prescribed CRIs and monomodal logarithmically normal particle size distributions that represent spherical, primarily fine mode aerosols. We investigated the degree to which the microphysical results retrieved by this algorithm benefits from the increased number of input extinction coefficients.
© Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2016
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
