Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL VARIATION OF CLOUD
MEASURED WITH A PORTABLE AUTOMATED LIDAR
TATSUO SHIINA and TOSHIO HONDA
Faculty of Engineering, Chiba University,
1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba-shi 263-8522, Japan
NOBUO TAKEUCHI, GERRY BAGTASA and HIROAKI KUZE
Center for Environmental Remote Sensing, Chiba University,
1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba-shi 263-8522, Japan
AKIHIRO SONE and HIROFUMI KAN
Hamamatsu Photonics, 5000 Hirakuchi, Hamakita-ku
Hamamatu-shi, Shizuoka-ken, 434-8601, Japan
SUEKAZU NAITO
Chiba Prefecture Environmental Research Center,
1-8-8 Iwasakinishi, Ichikawa-shi 290-0046, Japan
A portable automated lidar (PAL) system, which conducts full-time operation
and all-weather observation through the laboratory window, has been devel-
oped. Observations of long-term temporal and spatial dynamics of the atmos-
phere are described and the advantage of full-time operation is discussed.
1. Introduction
Atmospheric convection has an effect on cloud formation, and it leads
to heavy rain or lighting strike. It also affects diffusion of suspended
substances. Changes in the atmospheric convection due to the climate
change may influence the large- and local-scale transformation of particles
such as the yellow sand. In this context, it is essential to understand
the temporal and spatial dynamics of the atmosphere, which cannot
be monitored with conventional, fixed-point observation systems or
meteorological satellites.
Lidar is an appropriate tool for monitoring time and spatial dynamics
of the atmosphere, especially aerosols and clouds. Although various kinds
of lidar systems have so far been developed, observations are limited in
19
