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Cloud vertical structures detected by lidar and its statistical results at HeRO site in hefei, China

  • Lu Sun
  • , Dong Liu
  • , Zhien Wang
  • , Zhenzhu Wang
  • , Decheng Wu
  • , Guangyu Bo
  • , Yingjian Wang
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • University of Science and Technology of China

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Extensive studies have illustrated the importance of obtaining exact vertical structures of clouds and aerosols for satellite and relevant climate simulations. However, challenging exists, for example, in distinguishing clouds from aerosols at times. Accurate cloud vertical profiles are mainly determined by cloud bases and heights. Based on the ground-based lidar observations in Hefei Radiation Observatory (HeRO), the vertical structures of clouds and aerosols in Hefei area(31.89° N, 117.17°E) during May 2012-May 2014 have been investigated. The results show that the cloud fraction in the autumn and winter is less than that in the summer and spring, and is largest in the spring followed by the summer. The cloud fractions in the autumn and winter are comparable. The low cloud accounts for the most portion of the total. Compared with the cloud of the other heights, the high cloud is the least in the winter. Nearly 50% of the total vertical profiles can be detected by lidar as clouds and the proportion of the cloud of different heights seems to be stable annually. The fraction of low cloud is nearly 45%, medium cloud is nearly 35%, and high cloud is nearly 20%. In comparison with the results derived from CALIPSO, it is found that high cloud is usually missed for the ground-based lidar, while low cloud is usually omitted for the satellite observations. A combination of ground-based and space-borne lidar could lead to more reliable results. Further analysis will be performed in future studies.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationRemote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Clouds, and Precipitation V
EditorsEastwood Im, Song Yang, Peng Zhang
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781628413267
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014
EventRemote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Clouds, and Precipitation V - Beijing, China
Duration: Oct 13 2014Oct 15 2014

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume9259
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceRemote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Clouds, and Precipitation V
Country/TerritoryChina
CityBeijing
Period10/13/1410/15/14

Keywords

  • Clouds and aerosols
  • Lidar
  • Seasonal and interannual variations
  • Vertical structure

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