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From science to routine operations – Ceilometer and Lidar networks for

cloud and aerosol detection

WMO TECO 2012

18. October 2012

W. ThomasDeutscher Wetterdienst (DWD)

Met. Observatory Hohenpeissenberg

WMO TECO 2012, 18. October 2012 page 2

What is it all about ?

Lidar networks exist (EARLINET, MPlnet, AD-Net, others), with low spatio-temporal resolution, are typically operated by scientific entities, do not perform continuous operations.

(National) ceilometer networks exist (UKMO, DWD, Meteo-France, …), with a relatively high spatio-temporal resolution, are typically operational (24/7 operations), but are mostly dedicated to cloud base height/cloud layer measurements only

The recent volcano crises in Europe (2010 and 2011) showed however the potential of ceilometer measurements for aerosols in general and volcanic ash detection

There is obviously a need for a closer link between ceilometers and lidars

Not much exchange between these two worlds Be aware that Lidars are typically doing a much better job than ceilometers, especially with regard to aerosol retrievals

Be aware that Lidars are typically much more expensive than ceilometers, both in terms of running costs for the technics and the costs of staff needed for operations


Visions, Ideas, Plans

What do we have ?

GALION = WMO’s GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation Network

GALION is a Lidar network of networks !

National ceilometer networks, mainly for cloud detection

What do we need (because we don’t have it now) ?

International exchange of ceilometer (and lidar) data

An operational aerosol (profile) measurement/warning/alert system

How to get there ?

By stimulating the data exchange through COST actions, EUMETNET, WMO

By integrating national ceilometer networks into GALION

By combining and harmonizing the national ceilometer networks

GALION workshop 2010Source: WMO


Benefits

Aerosol information

Closing the gap between the current GALION world and the world of the operational met. services

Improving the spatio-temporal resolution of GALION

Procuring and supporting a win-win-situation by improving the near-real-time capabilities of GALION and operational entities in case of emergencies

Cloud information

Enabling application (assimilation and validation) of ceilometer and lidar data in NWP models at regional and global scale


Who needs that ?

Met. Services and Aeronautics (now)

support to aviation

WMO’s SDS-WAS, Met. Services (next 5 years)

Data assimilation, model validation

PBL height, aerosol profile data

WMO/GAW + Research community (long-term) Tracing long-range transport phenomena

Performing long-term observations (4D aerosol distribution)

Modelling air quality (using profile data to constrain the mixing height)

Eyjafjalla ash plume

Source: DLR


What has been done so far ? Survey of ceilometers and lidars

Mostly within RA VI (EARLINET) US (MPLnet) + Asia (AD-Net) involved About 15 different instrument types just in Europe !

Some corner stones 933 ceilometer positions and 120 lidar positions gathered on a google earth map clickable map provides access to quick looks and stations (meta data):

~180 stations are linked now created database containing data and meta data, Excel and MySQL

Web site: under development, hosted by DWDOpenlayers-based (free of charge), same functionalityShow cases (google-earth based) for

Saharan dustVolcanic ash


What else has been done ?

Paved the way for harmonizing/exchanging data Involvement of EG-CLIMET (COST ES0702) proposing a new COST action

“toprof” (like winprof) ensuring continuation of these activities after 2012

Expert workshop in September 2012 (Univ. Reading) discussed data format issues, ceilometer intercomparison and the absolute calibration of ceilometers

Agreement on netcdf (scientific exchange) and BUFR (operational exchange and storage) format; UKMO is the leading entity

Involvement of EUMETNET: Take over in the long-term, meanwhile agreed. Proposal by UKMO and MeteoSwiss (E-Profile) submitted

CIMO/CBS Status of Lidars and ceilometers regarding volcanic ash detection and

monitoring presented and laid down in report of 2011 annual meeting

Proposal sent to CIMO management group for supporting a ceilometer intercomparison campaign


Even more under way … at European level, all FP7 projects

WEZARD

Performed review of nowadays quality monitoring and status of data storage/data access w.r.t. volcanic ash products

ACTRIS/EARLINET

Ceilometer intercomparison campaign could be supported

EARLINET has accepted leading scientific role, thus engagement in the further development

Development of calibration and retrieval algorithms with EARLINETs help (funding problem !)

MACC-II

Use of ceilometer data in C-IFS (the ECMWF integrated chemistry forecast model); most likely using the “forward operator” approach


Conclusion

Important steps towards an integrated and operational use of ceilometer and lidar data have already been done

Several running and future projects deal with data exchange, harmonization of data and data formats, retrieval algorithms, calibration issues

These applications are served:

Aviation security (volcanic ash, dust)

NWP (data assimilation)

Global Atmosphere Watch (long-term monitoring)

Even more international engagement required; the current drivers are mostly in Europe


Thanks !

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