Comparison of aerosol lidar retrieval methods for boundary layer height detection using ceilometer aerosol backscatter data

摘要

Three algorithms for estimating the boundary layer heights are assessed: anaerosol gradient method, a cluster analysis method, and a Haar waveletmethod. Over 40 daytime clear-sky radiosonde profiles are used to compareaerosol backscatter boundary layer heights retrieved by a Vaisala CL31ceilometer. Overall good agreement between radiosonde- and aerosol-derivedboundary layer heights was found for all methods. The cluster method wasfound to be particularly sensitive to noise in ceilometer signals and loftedaerosol layers (48.8 % of comparisons), while the gradient method showedlimitations in low-aerosol-backscatter conditions. The Haar wavelet methodwas demonstrated to be the most robust, only showing limitations in 22.5 % ofall observations. Occasional differences between thermodynamically andaerosol-derived boundary layer heights were observed.