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In the framework of the Joint Aeolus Tropical Atlantic Campaign (JATAC), a temporary ground-based ACTRIS aerosol remote sensing station has been setup by TROPOS at the Ocean Science Center Mindelo (OSCM) in June 2021. The instrumental capabilities for aerosol profiling at the OSCM comprise a multiwavelength-Raman-polarization lidar Polly XT and an AERONET sun photometer. Furthermore, a scanning HALO photonics Doppler lidar is utilized to study the dynamics near the observational site. Continuous 24/7 observations have been performed since June 2021, thus covering the four intensive observational periods of JATAC (July 2021, September 2021, June 2022, September 2022).In this presentation, we want to discuss the capabilities of Aeolus to observe the aerosol conditions including the Saharan dust layer (SAL) above the Cabo Verdean islands. The time series of the ground-based PollyXT lidar from June 2021 until today has shown, that dust is omnipresent above the local boundary layer in the summer months. The maximum dust layer top height has been observed in July with 7 km. The SAL top height has then decreased to 3 km in November. Some rainy periods were observed in September/October, especially in the year 2022 for the fourth intensive JATAC campaign.We will utilize the direct Aeolus overpasses over Mindelo each Friday during these four periods (and for other seasons) to make a long(er)-term assessment of the Aeolus aerosol capabilities (L2A) involving also products from the most recent algorithm versions (Baselines). Due to the capabilities of the ground-based PollyXT lidar, we can directly compare the 2 main products of Aeolus: The extinction coefficient and the co-polar backscatter coefficient. Doing so, we can also quantify the influence of the missing polarization component in the Aeolus aerosol products which is important for the planning of the potential Aeolus follow-on mission, for which the polarization capabilities are still under discussion.Finally, the lessons learnt from the current Aeolus Cal/Val on Cabo Verde can be also used for the upcoming EarthCARE mission as TROPOS has started to setup a permanent ACTRIS aerosol and cloud remote sensing supersite at Mindelo.

This paper presents a collection of lidar-derived aerosol intensive optical properties for several aerosol types, namely the particle linear depolarization ratio, the extinction-to-backscatter ratio (lidar ratio) and the Ångström exponent. The data collection, named DeLiAn, is based on globally distributed, long-term, ground-based, multiwavelength, Raman and polarization lidar measurements, conducted mainly with lidars that have been developed at the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research. The intensive optical properties are presented at two wavelengths, 355 and 532 nm, for 13 aerosol categories. The categories cover the basic aerosol types (i.e., marine, pollution, continental European background, volcanic ash, smoke, mineral dust), as well as the most frequently observed mixtures they form. This extensive collection also incorporates more peculiar aerosol categories, including dried marine aerosol that, compared to marine aerosol, exhibits a significantly enhanced depolarization ratio (up to 15 %). Besides Saharan dust, additional mineral dust types related to their source region were identified due to their lower lidar ratios (Central Asian and Middle Eastern dust). In addition, extreme wildfire events (such as in north America and Australia) emitted smoke into the stratosphere showing significantly different optical properties, i.e., high depolarization values (up to 25 %), compared to tropospheric smoke. The data collection reflects and underlines the variety of aerosol mixtures in the atmosphere and can be used for the development of aerosol-typing schemes. The paper contains the most up-to-date and comprehensive overview of optical properties from aerosol lidar measurements and, therefore, provides a solid basis for future aerosol retrievals in the frame of both spaceborne and ground-based lidars. Furthermore, DeLiAn can assist the efforts for the harmonization of satellite records of aerosol properties performed at different wavelengths.

For the first time, vertically resolved long-term lidar measurements of the aerosol distribution were conducted in Haifa, Israel. The measurements were performed by a PollyXT multi-wavelength Raman and polarization lidar. The lidar was measuring continuously over a 2-year period from March 2017 to May 2019. The resulting data set is a series of manually evaluated lidar optical property profiles. To identify the aerosol types in the observed layers, a novel aerosol typing method that was developed at TROPOS is used. This method applies optimal estimation to a combination of lidar-derived intensive aerosol properties to determine the statistically most-likely contribution per aerosol component in terms of relative volume. A case study that shows several elevated aerosol layers illustrates this method and shows, for example, that coarse dust particles are observed up to 5ĝ€¯km height over Israel. From the whole data set, the seasonal distribution of the observed aerosol components over Israel is derived. Throughout all seasons, coarse spherical particles like sea salt and hygroscopically grown continental aerosol were observed. These particles originate from continental Europe and were transported over the Mediterranean Sea. Sea-salt particles were observed frequently due to the coastal site of Haifa. The highest contributions of coarse spherical particles are present in summer, autumn, and winter. During spring, mostly coarse non-spherical particles that are attributed to desert dust were observed. This is consistent with the distinct dust season in spring in Israel. An automated time-height-resolved air mass source attribution method identifies the origin of the dust in the Sahara and the Arabian deserts. Fine-mode spherical particles contribute significantly to the observed aerosol mixture during all seasons. These particles originate mainly from the industrial region at the bay of Haifa.

The large number of unsolved questions concerning the interaction between aerosol particles and clouds and corresponding indirect effects on precipitation and radiative transfer demand new measurement strategies and systems to resolve the atmospheric processes involved. Obtaining synergistic information about cloud and aerosol properties from multi–instrument and hence multi–sensor observations is a key approach to overcome the current lack of knowledge. Motivated by these needs, the mobile multi–instrument platform Leipzig Aerosol and Cloud Remote Observations System LACROS was set-up in 2011 by Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS). LACROS nowadays is the central component of a sophisticated framework of synergistic state-of-the-art measurement techniques and methodologies, embedded into an environment of comprehensive data management. The current setup of LACROS comprises a set of state-of-the-art remote-sensing instruments such as a 35-GHz scanning polarimetric cloud radar, multi-wavelength polarization Raman lidars, Doppler lidar, micro rain radar, microwave radiometer, laser disdrometer, as well as sensors for direct and diffuse downwelling solar and terrestrial radiation. All instruments are installed within customized sea-freight containers. This ensures a highest-possible mobility of the whole set of instruments. LACROS is a central mobile exploratory platform of the European Union Aerosol, Clouds, and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS, http://www.actris.net). A variety of ways for physical, remote, and virtual access to the LACROS capabilities are provided via the European Union project ATMO-ACCESS (https://www.atmo-access.eu). LACROS measurements focus on three main tasks: (1) Investigation of mixed-phase cloud processes by exploiting co‐located remote-sensing observations of microphysical properties and radiative effects of aerosols and clouds and their interactions. (2) Instrument validation and development of algorithms and new measurement techniques for cloud and aerosol microphysics retrievals such as, i.e., dual‐field‐of‐view lidar to derive cloud droplet size information, or retrievals of aerosol microphysical properties from combined lidar and Sun photometer measurements. (3) Field deployments in key regions of atmospheric research, where the processes under investigation are already naturally constrained and observations can ideally be combined with in-situ observations or model simulations. This contribution will present the current setup of LACROS and its recent deployments in Leipzig, the Netherlands, Cyprus and southern Chile, results of aerosol-cloud-interaction studies by means of both, case studies and multi-site long-term statistics, as well as an overview on the current and future involvement of LACROS in cal/val activities of new methods and satellite missions.

In September 2020, extremely strong wildfires in the western United States of America (i.e., mainly in California) produced large amounts of smoke, which was lifted into the free troposphere. These biomass‐burning‐aerosol (BBA) layers were transported from the US west coast toward central Europe within 3–4 days turning the sky milky and receiving high media attention. The present study characterizes this pronounced smoke plume above Leipzig, Germany, using a ground‐based multiwavelength‐Raman‐polarization lidar and the aerosol/cloud product of ESA’s wind lidar mission Aeolus. An exceptional high smoke‐AOT >0.4 was measured, yielding to a mean mass concentration of 8 μg m−3. The 355 nm lidar ratio was moderate at around 40–50 sr. The Aeolus‐derived backscatter, extinction and lidar ratio profiles agree well with the observations of the ground‐based lidar PollyXT considering the fact that Aeolus’ aerosol and cloud products are still preliminary and subject to ongoing algorithm improvements., Plain Language Summary: In September 2020, extremely strong wildfires in the western USA (i.e., mainly in California) produced large amounts of smoke. These biomass burning aerosol (BBA) layers were transported from the US west coast towards central Europe within 3‐4 days. This smoke plume was observed above Leipzig, Germany, for several days turning the sky milky and receiving high media attention ‐ it was the highest perturbation of the troposphere in terms of AOT ever observed over Leipzig. The first smoke plume arrived on 11 September 2020, just in time for a regular overpass of the Aeolus satellite of the European Space Agency (ESA). Aeolus accommodates the first instrument in space that actively measures profiles of a horizontal wind component in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. Aeolus has been launched to improve weather forecasts while assimilating the Aeolus wind profile data in near–real time. But Aeolus also delivers profiles of aerosol and cloud optical properties as spin‐off products. We performed a first assessment of the aerosol profiling capabilities of Aeolus while precisely analyzing the smoke plume above Leipzig with a ground‐based multiwavelength‐Raman‐polarization lidar. But we also show the dramatic impact of fires in the western USA on atmospheric conditions over central Europe., Key Points: Smoke from the extraordinary 2020 Californian wild fires traveled within 3–4 days toward Europe Highest Aerosol Optical Thickness ever measured in the free troposphere over Leipzig, Germany, Central Europe, with ground‐based lidar Unique opportunity for a first assessment of the aerosol optical profiles of the spaceborne wind lidar mission Aeolus, German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program

In August 2018, the first Doppler wind lidar in space called Atmospheric Laser Doppler Instrument (ALADIN) was launched on board the satellite Aeolus by the European Space Agency (ESA). Aeolus measures profiles of one horizontal wind component (i.e., mainly the west–east direction) in the troposphere and lower stratosphere on a global basis. Furthermore, profiles of aerosol and cloud properties can be retrieved via the high spectral resolution lidar (HSRL) technique. The Aeolus mission is supposed to improve the quality of weather forecasts and the understanding of atmospheric processes. We used the opportunity to perform a unique validation of the wind products of Aeolus by utilizing the RV Polarstern cruise PS116 from Bremerhaven to Cape Town in November/December 2018. Due to concerted course modifications, six direct intersections with the Aeolus ground track could be achieved in the Atlantic Ocean west of the African continent. For the validation of the Aeolus wind products, we launched additional radiosondes and used the EARLINET/ACTRIS lidar PollyXT for atmospheric scene analysis. The six analyzed cases prove that Aeolus is able to measure horizontal wind speeds in the nearly west–east direction. Good agreements with the radiosonde observations could be achieved for both Aeolus wind products – the winds observed in clean atmospheric regions called Rayleigh winds and the winds obtained in cloud layers called Mie winds (according to the responsible scattering regime). Systematic and statistical errors of the Rayleigh winds were less than 1.5 and 3.3 m s−1, respectively, when compared to radiosonde values averaged to the vertical resolution of Aeolus. For the Mie winds, a systematic and random error of about 1 m s−1 was obtained from the six comparisons in different climate zones. However, it is also shown that the coarse vertical resolution of 2 km in the upper troposphere, which was set in this early mission phase 2 months after launch, led to an underestimation of the maximum wind speed in the jet stream regions. In summary, promising first results of the first wind lidar space mission are shown and prove the concept of Aeolus for global wind observations.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has launched the Earth Explorer Mission Aeolus on 22 August 2018. Within the German initiative EVAA (Experimental Validation and Assimilation of Aeolus observations), Cal/Val activities for Aeolus started immediately after the instrument was turned on in space. The aim is to validate the wind and aerosol products of Aeolus and to quantify the benefits of these new measurements for weather forecasting and aerosol and cloud research. For this purpose, ground-based aerosol and wind lidar observations have been performed at the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) in Leipzig, Germany, and at Punta Arenas (53.13 S, 70.88 W), Chile, in the frame of the DACAPO-PESO campaign (dacapo.tropos.de). Radiosondes have been launched during the Aeolus overpasses each Friday at Leipzig in addition since mid of May 2019. In Punta Arenas, we also used Doppler cloud radar observations with respect to the validation of Mie and Rayleigh winds of Aeolus. Aerosol-only observations with multiwavelength-Raman polarization lidar were made at the PollyNET (Baars 2016) stations in Haifa (Israel), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Tel Aviv (Israel), and in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - the latter two are hosted by PollyNET partner institutions (Baars, 2016). These locations are close to the desert with frequent dense, lofted aerosol layers and are thus of particular interest for Aeolus Cal/Val. Considering the long averaging length of Aeolus (87 km) and the distance to the lidars (max. 100 km), a good agreement with respect to the co-polar backscatter coefficient is found between Aeolus and the ground-based lidars at these locations.We will present results from the above-mentioned Cal/Val activities with respect to, both, wind and aerosol products of Aeolus. It will be shown, that one of the mission goals, namely the demonstration that wind observations from space by active remote sensing are possible, have been already achieved. Furthermore, it will be demonstrated that the spaceborne HSRL (high spectral resolution lidar) technique applied for Aeolus can provide independent backscatter and extinction measurements of aerosols – a spaceborne novelty as well. Since September 2019, also an aerosol-optimized range resolution, the so-called Mediterranean range-bin setting (MARS), is operational for Aeolus in the Eastern Mediterranean. First results show a significantly improved aerosol retrieval for this adapted instrumental setting and will be presented as well. Reference:Baars, H., et al. (2016), An overview of the first decade of PollyNET: An emerging network of automated Raman-polarization lidars for continuous aerosol profiling, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16(8), 5111-5137, doi:10.5194/acp-16-5111-2016.

A dataset of particle optical properties of the highly polluted atmosphere over the Pearl River Delta, Guangzhou, China, is presented in this paper. The data were derived from the measurements of a multi-wavelengths Raman and depolarization lidar PollyXT and a co-located AERONET sun photometer. The measurement campaign was conducted from November 2011 to mid June 2012. These are the first Raman lidar measurements in the PRD that were lasting for several months. A mean value of aerosol optical depth observed by the sun photometer of 0.54 ± 0.33 was observed in the polluted atmosphere over this megacity for the whole measurement period. The lidar profiles frequently show lofted aerosol layers which reach up to altitudes of 2 to 3 km and especially in spring season up to even 5 km. These layers contain between 12 and 56 % of the total AOD, with the highest values in spring. The aerosol in these lofted layers were classified by their optical properties. The observed lidar ratio values are in the range from 30 to 80 sr with a mean value of 48.0 sr ± 10.7 sr. The linear particle depolarization ratio at 532 nm lied mostly below 5 % with a mean value of 3.6 ± 3.7. The majority of the Ångström exponents were observed between 1 and 1.5 indicating a coarse mode in addition to the fine mode in the particle size distribution. These results reveal that mainly urban pollution particles mixed with particles arisen from biomass and industrial burning are present in the atmosphere above the Pearl River Delta. Trajectory analyses show that these pollution mixtures arise mainly from local and regional sources.

Six months of stratospheric aerosol observations with the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) from August 2017 to January 2018 are presented. The decay phase of an unprecedented, record-breaking stratospheric perturbation caused by wildfire smoke is reported and discussed in terms of geometrical, optical, and microphysical aerosol properties. Enormous amounts of smoke were injected into the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere over fire areas in western Canada on 12 August 2017 during strong thunderstorm–pyrocumulonimbus activity. The stratospheric fire plumes spread over the entire Northern Hemisphere in the following weeks and months. Twenty-eight European lidar stations from northern Norway to southern Portugal and the eastern Mediterranean monitored the strong stratospheric perturbation on a continental scale. The main smoke layer (over central, western, southern, and eastern Europe) was found at heights between 15 and 20 km since September 2017 (about 2 weeks after entering the stratosphere). Thin layers of smoke were detected at heights of up to 22–23 km. The stratospheric aerosol optical thickness at 532 nm decreased from values > 0.25 on 21–23 August 2017 to 0.005–0.03 until 5–10 September and was mainly 0.003–0.004 from October to December 2017 and thus was still significantly above the stratospheric background (0.001–0.002). Stratospheric particle extinction coefficients (532 nm) were as high as 50–200 Mm−1 until the beginning of September and on the order of 1 Mm−1 (0.5– 5 Mm−1 ) from October 2017 until the end of January 2018. The corresponding layer mean particle mass concentration was on the order of 0.05–0.5 µg m−3 over these months. Soot particles (light-absorbing carbonaceous particles) are efficient ice-nucleating particles (INPs) at upper tropospheric (cirrus) temperatures and available to influence cirrus formation when entering the tropopause from above. We estimated INP concentrations of 50–500 L−1 until the first days in September and afterwards 5–50 L−1 until the end of the year 2017 in the lower stratosphere for typical cirrus formation temperatures of −55 ◦C and an ice supersaturation level of 1.15. The measured profiles of the particle linear depolarization ratio indicated a predominance of nonspherical smoke particles. The 532 nm depolarization ratio decreased slowly with time in the main smoke layer from values of 0.15–0.25 (August–September) to values of 0.05–0.10 (October–November) and < 0.05 (December–January). The decrease of the depolarization ratio is consistent with aging of the smoke particles, growing of a coating around the solid black carbon core (aggregates), and thus change of the shape towards a spherical form. We found ascending aerosol layer features over the most southern European stations, especially over the eastern Mediterranean at 32–35◦ N, that ascended from heights of about 18–19 to 22–23 km from the beginning of October to the beginning of December 2017 (about 2 km per month). We discuss several transport and lifting mechanisms that may have had an impact on the found aerosol layering structures.

International audience; Six months of stratospheric aerosol observations with the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) from August 2017 to January 2018 are presented. The decay phase of an unprecedented, record-breaking stratospheric perturbation caused by wildfire smoke is reported and discussed in terms of geometrical, optical, and microphysical aerosol properties. Enormous amounts of smoke were injected into the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere over fire areas in western Canada on 12 August 2017 during strong thunderstorm-pyrocumulonimbus activity. The stratospheric fire plumes spread over the entire Northern Hemisphere in the following weeks and months. Twenty-eight European lidar stations from northern Norway to southern Portugal and the eastern Mediterranean monitored the strong stratospheric perturbation on a continental scale. The main smoke layer (over central, western, southern, and eastern Europe) was found at heights between 15 and 20 km since September 2017 (about 2 weeks after entering the stratosphere). Thin layers of smoke were detected at heights of up to 22-23 km. The stratospheric aerosol optical thickness at 532 nm decreased from values > 0.25 on 21-23 August 2017 to 0.005-0.03 until 5-10 September and was mainly 0.003-0.004 from October to December 2017 and thus was still significantly above the stratospheric background (0.001-0.002). Stratospheric particle extinction coefficients (532 nm) were as high as 50-200 Mm-1 until the beginning of September and on the order of 1 Mm-1 (0.5-5 Mm-1) from October 2017 until the end of January 2018. The corresponding layer mean particle mass concentration was on the order of 0.05-0.5 µg m-3 over these months. Soot particles (light-absorbing carbonaceous particles) are efficient ice-nucleating particles (INPs) at upper tropospheric (cirrus) temperatures and available to influence cirrus formation when entering the tropopause from above. We estimated INP concentrations of 50-500 L-1 until the first days in September and afterwards 5-50 L-1 until the end of the year 2017 in the lower stratosphere for typical cirrus formation temperatures of -55 ∘C and an ice supersaturation level of 1.15. The measured profiles of the particle linear depolarization ratio indicated a predominance of nonspherical smoke particles. The 532 nm depolarization ratio decreased slowly with time in the main smoke layer from values of 0.15-0.25 (August-September) to values of 0.05-0.10 (October-November) and < 0.05 (December-January). The decrease of the depolarization ratio is consistent with aging of the smoke particles, growing of a coating around the solid black carbon core (aggregates), and thus change of the shape towards a spherical form. We found ascending aerosol layer features over the most southern European stations, especially over the eastern Mediterranean at 32-35∘ N, that ascended from heights of about 18-19 to 22-23 km from the beginning of October to the beginning of December 2017 (about 2 km per month). We discuss several transport and lifting mechanisms that may have had an impact on the found aerosol layering structures.

Knowledge of the vertical distribution and layering of aerosols and identification of the corresponding aerosol sources are needed to improve our understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of aerosol pollution. To achieve this goal, we combined both passive and active remote-sensing techniques to provide a 3D view of local aerosol levels and regional to long-range pollution transport. We studied aerosol optical depth (AOD) data from the Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction (MAIAC) algorithm at 1-km spatial resolution along with active multiwavelength polarization lidar observations of vertical aerosol profiles in Haifa, Israel, Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) sun photometer observations at the lidar site, and local-network observations of aerosol concentrations (PM2.5). This comprehensive dataset enabled analyzing the performance of the MAIAC AOD retrieval in cases of complex aerosol layering and mixing states which are typical of the Eastern Mediterranean. While satellite-derived and ground-based AOD measurements generally showed good agreement, 35 out of 100 measurements showed low correspondence. Analysis of those cases revealed that overestimation of AOD was mostly related to cloud-contaminated pixels and aerosol water-uptake effects in moist, cloud-free air at cloud level. Furthermore, AOD over- and underestimations were related to the presence of complex aerosol mixture and layering conditions, especially when dust was mixed with aged anthropogenic aerosol pollution and marine aerosols with lofted anthropogenic pollution. In these cases 50–70% of measurements were outside of the expected error limit. Perhaps these conditions are not considered in the MAIAC retrieval. Finally, we investigated the link between AOD spatial variability and the MAIAC AOD bias, and performed a cluster analysis corroborating the strong impact of cloud contamination on MAIAC AOD quality. Our observation-based results raise the importance of carefully analyzing the uncertainties in satellite AOD measurements that are used as an important input variable in numerous health-related exposure studies and climate models.

The atmospheric science community demands autonomous and quality-assured vertically resolved measurements of aerosol and cloud properties. For this purpose, a portable lidar called Polly was developed at TROPOS in 2003. The lidar system was continuously improved with gained experience from the EARLINET community, involvement in worldwide field campaigns, and international institute collaborations within the last 10 years. Here we present recent changes of the setup of the portable multiwavelength Raman and polarization lidar PollyXT and discuss the improved capabilities of the system by means of a case study. The latest system developments include an additional near-range receiver unit for Raman measurements of the backscatter and extinction coefficient down to 120 m above ground, a water-vapor channel, and channels for simultaneous measurements of the particle linear depolarization ratio at 355 and 532 nm. Quality improvements were achieved by systematically following the EARLINET guidelines and the international PollyNET quality assurance developments. A modified ship radar ensures measurements in agreement with air-traffic safety regulations and allows for 24∕7 monitoring of the atmospheric state with PollyXT.

MODIS (MOderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) retrievals of aerosol optical depth (AOD) are biased over urban areas, primarily because the reflectance characteristics of urban surfaces are different than that assumed by the retrieval algorithm. Specifically, the operational "dark-target" retrieval is tuned towards vegetated (dark) surfaces and assumes a spectral relationship to estimate the surface reflectance in blue and red wavelengths. From airborne measurements of surface reflectance over the city of Zhongshan, China, were collected that could replace the assumptions within the MODIS retrieval algorithm. The subsequent impact was tested upon two versions of the operational algorithm, Collections 5 and 6 (C5 and C6). AOD retrieval results of the operational and modified algorithms were compared for a specific case study over Zhongshan to show minor differences between them all. However, the Zhongshan-based spectral surface relationship was applied to a much larger urban sample, specifically to the MODIS data taken over Beijing between 2010 and 2014. These results were compared directly to ground-based AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork) measurements of AOD. A significant reduction of the differences between the AOD retrieved by the modified algorithms and AERONET was found, whereby the mean difference decreased from 0.27±0.14 for the operational C5 and 0.19±0.12 for the operational C6 to 0.10±0.15 and -0.02±0.17 by using the modified C5 and C6 retrievals. Since the modified algorithms assume a higher contribution by the surface to the total measured reflectance from MODIS, consequently the overestimation of AOD by the operational methods is reduced. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the MODIS AOD retrieval with respect to different surface types was investigated. Radiative transfer simulations were performed to model reflectances at top of atmosphere for predefined aerosol properties. The reflectance data were used as input for the retrieval methods. It was shown that the operational MODIS AOD retrieval over land reproduces the AOD reference input of 0.85 for dark surface types (retrieved AOD = 0.87 (C5)). An overestimation of AOD = 0.99 is found for urban surfaces, whereas the modified C5 algorithm shows a good performance with a retrieved value of AOD = 0.86.

PollyNET is a network of portable, automated, and continuously measuring Ramanpolarization lidars of type Polly operated by several institutes worldwide. The data from permanent and temporary measurements sites are automatically processed in terms of optical aerosol profiles and displayed in near-real time at polly.tropos.de. According to current schedules, the network will grow by 3-4 systems during the upcoming 2-3 years and will then comprise 11 permanent stations and 2 mobile platforms.

Optical properties of fresh biomass burning aerosol were measured by lidar during the wild fires in Israel in November 2016. A single-wavelength lidar Polly was operated at the Technion Campus at Haifa. The detector with originally two channels at 532 and 607 nm was recently upgraded with a cross- and a co-polarised channel at 532 nm, and a rotational Raman channel at 530.2 nm. Preliminary results show high particle depolarisation ratios probably caused by soil dust and large fly-ash particles.

During August 2016, a quasi-stationary high-pressure system spreading over Central and North-Eastern Europe, caused weather conditions that allowed for 24/7 observations of aerosol optical properties by using a complex multi-wavelength PollyXT lidar system with Raman, polarization and water vapour capabilities, based at the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET network) urban site in Warsaw, Poland. During 24–30 August 2016, the lidar-derived products (boundary layer height, aerosol optical depth, Angstrom exponent, lidar ratio, depolarization ratio) were analysed in terms of air mass transport (HYSPLIT model), aerosol load (CAMS data) and type (NAAPS model) and confronted with active and passive remote sensing at the ground level (PolandAOD, AERONET, WIOS-AQ networks) and aboard satellites (SEVIRI, MODIS, CATS sensors). Optical properties for less than a day-old fresh biomass burning aerosol, advected into Warsaw’s boundary layer from over Ukraine, were compared with the properties of long-range transported 3–5 day-old aged biomass burning aerosol detected in the free troposphere over Warsaw. Analyses of temporal changes of aerosol properties within the boundary layer, revealed an increase of aerosol optical depth and Angstrom exponent accompanied by an increase of surface PM10 and PM2.5. Intrusions of advected biomass burning particles into the urban boundary layer seem to affect not only the optical properties observed but also the top height of the boundary layer, by moderating its increase.

We present combined Raman and elastic backscatter lidar observations in Zhongshan, PRD (Pearl River Delta), China, during two periods in 2009: one haze period and one moderate pollution period. During the haze period, high Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) (0.86 and 1.20 at 355 nm) and medium Angstrom exponents (1.23 and 1.35 at 355 nm/532 nm) were observed. In the moderate pollution period, the corresponding parameters were comparatively lower with values of 0.83 and 0.74 at 355 nm for AOD and 1.108 and 0.98 at 355 nm/532 nm for Angstrom exponent. The mean lidar ratios in the two periods were 64 ± 10 sr and 56 ± 9 sr, respectively, at 355 nm. The Angstrom exponent was calculated for the extinction from the wavelength pair 355 nm/532 nm, with high values of around 1.35 for the haze event. The particle size distribution and single-scattering albedo derived from Sun photometer measurements indicate the presence of rather small particles. The 3 day back trajectories from a Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model in the haze period indicate that the air masses in the lower layer were advected from the southeast coast of China, where incomplete combustion of carbonaceous fuels and straw burning are frequently found in Shanghai during the heating period in winter. In the moderate pollution period, the air mass passed through western China, indicating a combination of some pollution from South Asia in case of strong convection, local aerosol aging, and smoke from adjacent fire burning spots in the PRD region.

Monthly mean vertical profiles of aerosol type occurrences are determined from multiwavelength Raman and polarization lidar measurements above Haifa, Israel, in 2017. This contribution presents the applied methods and threshold values. The results are discussed for one example, May 2017. This month shows more often large, non-spherical particles in lofted layers than within the planetary boundary layer. Small particles are observed at higher altitudes only when they are observed in lower altitudes, too.

A global vertically resolved aerosol data set covering more than 10 years of observations at more than 20 measurement sites distributed from 63° N to 52° S and 72° W to 124° E has been achieved within the Raman and polarization lidar network PollyNET. This network consists of portable, remote-controlled multiwavelength-polarization-Raman lidars (Polly) for automated and continuous 24/7 observations of clouds and aerosols. PollyNET is an independent, voluntary, and scientific network. All Polly lidars feature a standardized instrument design with different capabilities ranging from single wavelength to multiwavelength systems, and now apply unified calibration, quality control, and data analysis. The observations are processed in near-real time without manual intervention, and are presented online at http://polly.tropos.de/. The paper gives an overview of the observations on four continents and two research vessels obtained with eight Polly systems. The specific aerosol types at these locations (mineral dust, smoke, dust-smoke and other dusty mixtures, urban haze, and volcanic ash) are identified by their Ångström exponent, lidar ratio, and depolarization ratio. The vertical aerosol distribution at the PollyNET locations is discussed on the basis of more than 55 000 automatically retrieved 30 min particle backscatter coefficient profiles at 532 nm as this operating wavelength is available for all Polly lidar systems. A seasonal analysis of measurements at selected sites revealed typical and extraordinary aerosol conditions as well as seasonal differences. These studies show the potential of PollyNET to support the establishment of a global aerosol climatology that covers the entire troposphere.

A global vertically resolved aerosol data set covering more than 10 years of observations at more than 20 measurement sites has been achieved from portable, remote-controlled multiwavelength-polarization-Raman lidars (Polly) within PollyNET.

A dataset of particle optical properties of highly polluted urban aerosol over the Pearl River Delta, Guangzhou, China is presented. The data were derived from multi-wavelengths Raman and depolarization lidar Polly XT and AERONET sun photometer measurements. The measurement campaign was conducted from Nov 2011 to June 2012. High aerosol optical depth was observed in the polluted atmosphere over this megacity, with a mean value of 0.54 ± 0.33 and a peak value of even 1.9. For the particle characterization the lidar ratio and the linear particle depolarization ratio, both at 532 nm, were used. The mean values of these properties are 48.0 sr ± 10.7 sr for the lidar ratio and 4%+-4% for the particle depolarization ratio, which means most depolarization measurements stayed below 10%. So far, most of these results indicate urban pollution particles mixed with particles arisen from biomass and industrial burning.

A combined Raman/elastic backscatter lidar observations is carried out in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) China. The results show the largest lidar ratios of the order of 80 sr in the uplifting boundary layer in 2-3 km during the haze period. In the moderate pollution period, the lidar ratio has an average value of 58 sr. The Angstrom exponent exhibits high values around 1.82, indicating the presence of rather small particles. Different back air mass trajectories and the ambient atmospheric conditions are attributed to the distinct characteristics of aerosol optical properties in the haze and moderate pollution episodes. In the lower layer in the haze period, air masses are mostly advected from southeast coast China. In contrast, the air mass in the moderate pollution observing period passes through northwest China, indicating the combination of some pollution from the Tarim Basin in case of strong convection and the smoke from adjacent fire burning spot in PRD region. OCIS codes: 010.0100, 210.4770, 180.1790.

The potential of a new generation of ceilometer instruments for aerosol monitoring has been studied in the Ceilometer Lidar Comparison (CLIC) study. The used ceilometer was developed by Jenoptik, Germany, and is designed to find both thin cirrus clouds at tropopause level and aerosol layers at close ranges during day and night-time. The comparison study was performed to determine up to which altitude the ceilometers are capable to deliver particle backscatter coefficient profiles. For this, the derived ceilometer profiles are compared to simultaneously measured lidar profiles at the same wavelength. The lidar used for the comparison was the multi-wavelengths Raman lidar PollyXT. To demonstrate the capabilities and limits of ceilometers for the derivation of particle backscatter coefficient profiles from their measurements two examples of the comparison results are shown. Two cases, a daytime case with high background noise and a less noisy night-time case, are chosen. In both cases the ceilometer profiles compare well with the lidar profiles in atmospheric structures like aerosol layers or the boundary layer top height. However, the determination of the correct magnitude of the particle backscatter coefficient needs a calibration of the ceilometer data with an independent measurement of the aerosol optical depth by a sun photometer. To characterizes the ceilometers signal performance with increasing altitude a comprehensive signal-to-noise ratio study was performed. During daytime the signal-to-noise ratio is higher than 1 up to 4–5 km depending on the aerosol content. In our night-time case the SNR is higher than 1 even up to 8.5 km, so that also aerosol layers in the upper troposphere had been detected by the ceilometer.

The aerosol layers of different origin, suspended in the atmosphere on 9-11 August 2015 were observed with the PollyXT-UW lidar in Warsaw, Poland. The HYSPLIT ensemble backward trajectories indicate that the observed air-masses attribute to a few different sources, among others, possible transport paths from Ukraine, Slovakia, and Africa. In this paper, we attempt to analyse and discuss the properties of aerosol particles of different origin that were suspended over Warsaw during this event.

Two versions of the portable aerosol Raman lidar system (Polly) are presented. First, the two-channel prototype is depicted. It has been developed for the independent and simultaneous determination of particle backscatter and extinction coefficient profiles at 532 nm. Second, the 3 + 2 Raman lidar PollyXT (3 + 2: three backscatter and two extinction coefficients), the second generation of Polly, is described. The extended capabilities of PollyXT are due to the simultaneous emission of light with three wavelengths, more laser power, a larger main receiver mirror, and seven receiver channels. These systems are completely remotely controlled and all measurements are performed automatically. The collected data are transferred to a home server via the Internet and are displayed on a Web page. This paper describes the details of the optical setup, the housekeeping of the systems, and the used data retrieval routines. A measurement example taken close to Manaus, Brazil, on 15 August 2008 shows the capabilities of PollyXT.

The atmospheric science community demands for autonomous and quality-assured vertically resolved measurements of aerosol and cloud properties. For this purpose, a portable lidar called Polly was developed at TROPOS in 2003. The lidar system was continuously improved with gained experience from EARLINET, worldwide field campaigns and institute collaborations within the last 10 years. Here we present recent changes of the setup of our portable multiwavelength Raman and polarization lidar PollyXT and the improved capabilities of the system by means of a case study. Our latest developed system includes an additional near-range receiver unit for Raman measurements of the backscatter and extinction coefficient down to 120 m above ground, a water-vapor channel, and channels for simultaneous measurements of the particle linear depolarization at 355 and 532 nm. Quality improvements were achieved by following consequently the EARLINET guidelines and own developments. A modified ship radar ensures measurements in agreement with air-traffic safety regulations and allows 24/7 monitoring of the atmospheric state with PollyXT.

The results of a validation of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) operational Medium-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) cloud-top pressure (CTP) product by airborne lidar measurements are presented. MERIS, mounted on the polar-orbiting ESA Environmental Satellite (ENVISAT), provides radiance measurements within the oxygen A absorption band around 761 nm. The exploitation of these data allows the retrieval of CTP. The validation flights were performed in the northeastern part of Germany between April and June 2004 and were temporally and spatially synchronized with the ENVISAT overpasses. The Cessna 207T of the Freie Universität Berlin was equipped with the portable lidar system (POLIS) of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and a GPS navigation system. The maximum flying altitude was around 3000 m; therefore, the validation measurements were limited to situations with low-level clouds only. The validation was done by comparing MERIS data and lidar data. The statistical analysis of the observations revealed a high accuracy of the MERIS CTP product for low-level clouds, apart from a slight systematic overestimation of cloud-top heights. The root-mean-square error was 249 m, with a bias of +232 m. In the average top height level of ∼2000 m, these values are commensurate to pressure values of 24 hPa (rmse) and −22 hPa (bias). Furthermore, this validation campaign revealed deficiencies of the MERIS cloud mask to detect small-scale broken clouds.

International audience; In the framework of the Third European Stratospheric Experiment on Ozone project Meridional Transport of Ozone in the Lower Stratosphere (METRO) an airborne ozone lidar has been flown on the French Falcon (Mystere 20) during winter 1998/1999 to investigate polar and subtropical filaments at midlatitudes. The objective of the METRO project is to quantify the proportion of the transport of polar and subtropical air and their mixing into midlatitude air masses. The dynamical evolution of the northern winter hemisphere was simulated using a high‐resolution advection model for potential vorticity (PV): Modele Isentropique de transport Mesoechelle de l'Ozone Stratospherique par Advection (MIMOSA). To validate the model for further studies, it was first utilized to forecast the appearance of filaments inside the range of the airplane so that each flight of the airborne campaign could be planned precisely. The vertical ozone distribution measured along the flight tracks was then compared to the respective PV distribution simulated by the advection model. Correlation coefficients between 0.5 and 0.7 found over the altitude range where the filaments were observed show a good agreement between PV and ozone filaments. An improvement of the correlation up to 0.8 by horizontal shifting of the ozone profiles against the PV evolution showed that small displacements of less than 1° of the modeled PV filaments can occur. These displacements can be explained by the uncertainties of the input wind velocity data and of the lidar data. Thus we can conclude that the PV advection model MIMOSA reproduces the position, size, and structure of polar filaments and subtropical intrusions well in the range of the expected accuracy. The model is a suitable tool for further studies of the quantification of the global, long‐term transport and mixing of polar and subtropical air into mid‐latitudes.

PollyNET is a growing global network of automatized multiwavelength polarization Raman lidars of type Polly (Althausen et al., 2009). The goal of this network is to conduct advanced remote measurements of aerosol profiles and clouds by the same type of instrument. Since 2006 this network assists the controlling and adjustment activities of Polly systems. A central facility receives the data from the Polly measurements. The observational data are displayed in terms of quicklooks at http://polly:tropos.de in near real time. In this way, the network serves as a central information platform for inquisitive scientists. PollyNET comprises permanent stations at Leipzig (Germany), Kuopio (Finland), Evora (Portugal), Baengnyeong Island (South Korea), Stockholm (Sweden), and Warsaw (Poland). Non-permanent stations have been used during several field experiments under both urban and very remote conditions - like the Amazon rainforest. These non-permanent stations were lasting from several weeks up to one year and have been located in Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Chile, and also aboard the German research vessels Polarstern and Meteor across the Atlantic. Within PollyNET the interaction and knowledge exchange is encouraged between the Polly operators. This includes maintenance support in system calibration procedures and distribution of latest hardware and software improvements. This presentation introduces the PollyNET. Main features of the Polly systems will be presented as well as recent instrumental developments. Some measurement highlights achieved within PollyNET are depicted.

The study of interactions between aerosol particles, atmospheric dynamics and clouds and their resulting corresponding indirect effects on precipitation and radiative transfer demand new measurement strategies combining the strength of lidar, radar, and in-situ instrumentation. To match this challenge the Leipzig Aerosol and Cloud Remote Observations System (LACROS) has been set up at TROPOS, combining the strengths of a unique set of active and passive remote sensing and in-situ measurement systems.

Airborne measurements of spectral upward radiance and irradiance over the city of Zhongshan, China, were used to examine the heterogeneity of reflection properties of urban surfaces. After the surface reflectivity was derived from the airborne measurements, ratios of surface reflectivity at 466 and 644 nm wavelengths were calculated for the present case study. Implementing the derived ratios into the operational aerosol algorithm over land for the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer, enabled us to quantify the influence of the assumptions made for the estimation of the surface reflectivity at 466 nm on the retrieved aerosol optical depth.

The atmospheric science community demands for autonomous and quality-assured vertically resolved measurements of aerosol and cloud properties. Aiming this goal, TROPOS developed the fully automated multiwavelength polarization Raman lidar Polly since over 10 years [1, 2]. In cooperation with different partner research institutes the system was improved continuously. Our latest lidar developments include aside the "3+2" measurements also a near-range receiver to measure aerosol extinction and backscatter down to 120 m above the lidar, a water-vapor channel, and measurements of the linear depolarization at two wavelengths. The latest system was built in cooperation with the National Observatory of Athens (NOA). Its first campaign however was performed at the Cyprus Institute of Nicosia from March to April 2015, aiming specifically at the observation of ice nuclei with in-situ and lidar remote sensing techniques in the framework of BACCHUS [3, 4].

An air-mass modification, on its way from Poland to Romania, observed between 19-21 July 2014 is discussed. The air-mass was investigated using data of two multi-wavelength lidars capable of performing regular elastic, depolarization and Raman measurements in Warsaw, Poland, and in Magurele, Romania. The analysis was focused on evaluating optical properties of aerosol in order to search for similarities and differences in the vertical profiles describing the atmospheric layers above the two stations within given period.

This paper presents a preliminary study of aerosol optical properties of air-mass advected on 10 th July 2013 from Canada above Warsaw, Poland, during the forest fire event that occurred in Quebec at the beginning of July 2013. The observations were conducted with use of the modern version of 8-channel Polly XT lidar capable of measuring at 3β+2α+2δ+VW and interpreted with available information from the MACC model, the CALIPSO and MODIS satellite sensors, the AERONET data products and the data gathered within the Poland-AOD network.

The Near-range Aerosol Raman lidar (NARLa) receiver unit, that was designed to enhance the detection range of the NeXT generation PollyXT Aerosol-Depolarization-Raman (ADR) lidar of the University of Warsaw, was employed next the Koldeway Aerosol Raman Lidar (KARL) at the AWI-IPEV German-French station in Arctic during Spring 2015. Here we introduce shortly design of both lidars, the scheme of their installation next to each other, and preliminary results of observations aiming at arctic haze investigation by the lidars and the iCAP a set of particle counter and aethalometer installed under a tethered balloon.

[1] For the first time, multiwavelength polarization Raman lidar observations of optical and microphysical particle properties over the Amazon Basin are presented. The fully automated advanced Raman lidar was deployed 60 km north of Manaus, Brazil (2.5°S, 60°W) in the Amazon rain forest from January to November 2008. The measurements thus cover both the wet season (Dec–June) and the dry or burning season (July–Nov). Two cases studies of young and aged smoke plumes are discussed in terms of spectrally resolved optical properties (355, 532, and 1064 nm) and further lidar products such as particle effective radius and single-scattering albedo. These measurement examples confirm that biomass burning aerosols show a broad spectrum of optical, microphysical, and chemical properties. The statistical analysis of the entire measurement period revealed strong differences between the pristine wet and the polluted dry season. African smoke and dust advection frequently interrupt the pristine phases during the wet season. Compared to pristine wet season conditions, the particle scattering coefficients in the lowermost 2 km of the atmosphere were found to be enhanced, on average, by a factor of 4 during periods of African aerosol intrusion and by a factor of 6 during the dry (burning) season. Under pristine conditions, the particle extinction coefficients and optical depth for 532 nm wavelength were frequently as low as 10–30 Mm−1 and

Nearly pure Saharan dust was observed with an Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) Sun photometer, several Raman and high spectral resolution lidars, and airborne in situ instruments during the Saharan Mineral Dust Experiment (SAMUM) 2006 in Morocco. In the framework of a case study we present particle shapeA¢Â€Âdependent dust properties, i.e., backscatter coefficients, extinctionA¢Â€ÂtoA¢Â€Âbackscatter (lidar) ratios, and linear particle depolarization ratios. These parameters can be inferred from AERONETA¢Â€Â™s latest version of the mineral dust retrieval algorithm. The parameters can be measured with multiwavelength Raman/depolarization lidar without critical assumptions on particle shape. Lidar ratios inferred from the AERONET Sun photometer data tend to be larger than lidar ratios measured directly with lidar. Linear dust depolarization ratios were derived for several measurement wavelengths from the data products of the AERONET Sun photometer. The depolarization ratios tend to be smaller than the depolarization ratios measured with lidar. The largest differences exist in the nearA¢Â€Âultraviolet wavelength range. Particle axis ratios were determined with scanning electron microscopy. The axis ratio distribution differs significantly from the axis ratio distribution that is assumed in the AERONET retrievals. If the axis ratio distributions measured during SAMUM are used, the reproducibility of the lidar data products improves. The differences may in part be caused by an insufficient understanding of the lightA¢Â€Âscattering model that is used in the AERONET algorithm. The results of the present study will be used to develop a dust lightA¢Â€Âscattering model that will serve as the theoretical basis for the inversion of optical data into dust microphysical properties.

In the framework of the Saharan Mineral Dust Experiment (SAMUM) for the first time the spectral dependence of particle linear depolarization ratios was measured by combining four lidar systems. In this paper these measurements are compared with results from scattering theory based on the T-matrix method. For this purpose, in situ measurements—size distribution, shape distribution and refractive index—were used as input parameters; particle shape was approximated by spheroids. A sensitivity study showed that lidar-related parameters—lidar ratio Sp and linear depolarization ratio δp—are very sensitive to changes of all parameters. The simulated values of the δp are in the range of 20% and 31% and thus in the range of the measurements. The spectral dependence is weak, so that it could not be resolved by the measurements. Calculated lidar ratios based on the measured microphysics and considering equivalent radii up to 7.5 μm show a range of possible values between 29 and 50 sr at λ= 532 nm. Larger Sp might be possible if the real part of the refractive index is small and the imaginary part is large. A strict validation was however not possible as too many microphysical parameters influence Sp and δp that could not be measured with the required accuracy.DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.2008.00381.x

Vertical profiles of dust key optical properties are presented from measurements during the Saharan Mineral Dust Experiment (SAMUM) by Raman and depolarization lidar at two ground-based sites and by airborne high spectral resolution lidar. One of the sites, Tinfou, is located close to the border of the Sahara in Southern Morocco and was the main in situ site during SAMUM. The other site was Ouarzazate airport, the main lidar site. From the lidar measurements the spatial distribution of the dust between Tinfou and Ouarzazate was derived for 1 d. The retrieved profiles of backscatter and extinction coefficients and particle depolarization ratios show comparable dust optical properties, a similar vertical structure of the dust layer, and a height of about 4 km asl at both sites. The airborne cross-section of the extinction coefficient at the two sites confirms the low variability in dust properties. Although the general picture of the dust layer was similar, the lidar measurements reveal a higher dust load closer to the dust source. Nevertheless, the observed intensive optical properties were the same. These results indicate that the lidar measurements at two sites close to the dust source are both representative for the SAMUM dust conditions. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.2008.00404.x

Vertical profiles of the linear particle depolarization ratio of pure dust clouds were measured during the Saharan Mineral Dust Experiment (SAMUM) at Ouarzazate, Morocco (30.9°N, –6.9°E), close to source regions in May–June 2006, with four lidar systems at four wavelengths (355, 532, 710 and 1064 nm). The intercomparison of the lidar systems is accompanied by a discussion of the different calibration methods, including a new, advanced method, and a detailed error analysis. Over the whole SAMUM periode pure dust layers show a mean linear particle depolarization ratio at 532 nm of 0.31, in the range between 0.27 and 0.35, with a mean Ångström exponent (AE, 440–870 nm) of 0.18 (range 0.04–0.34) and still high mean linear particle depolarization ratio between 0.21 and 0.25 during periods with aerosol optical thickness less than 0.1, with a mean AE of 0.76 (range 0.65–1.00), which represents a negative correlation of the linear particle depolarization ratio with the AE. A slight decrease of the linear particle depolarization ratio with wavelength was found between 532 and 1064 nm from 0.31 ± 0.03 to 0.27 ± 0.04.DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.2008.00396.x