Doppler lidar observations of Trade Cumulus Clouds during ATOMIC

Abstract:

A motion stabilized Doppler lidar was deployed aboard the R/V Ron Brown during the ATOMIC field experiment. The Doppler lidar operated continuously, pointing vertically to measure vertical velocity at 2Hz time resolution, and scanning at the top of the hour to measure wind profiles every hour. In addition, cloud base height, sub cloud mixing height and turbulence quantities such as vertical velocity variance and dissipation rates are calculated from the Doppler lidar measurements. Subcloud circulations of individual trade cumuli and composite structure of the trade cumulus convective boundary layer are also examined. Here, we will present the Doppler lidar measurements, retrieved quantities and characteristics of trade cumulus clouds as measured by the Doppler lidar.