Variance Processing for Stable Boundary-Layer Height Estimation Using Backscatter Lidar Data: A Discussion

In this paper we present a method for estimating the height of the nocturnal stable boundary layer by using lidar measurements and a single radiosonde for unambiguous initial guess. The method relies on the correlation between aerosol stratifications in the stable boundary layer and minimum variance levels in the attenuated backscatter profile. The method is based on calculating either temporal or spatial variance vertical profiles of the attenuated backscatter and threshold-limited decision. A radiosonde temperature-based estimation is used to provide an initial guess if several minimum variance regions are detected. Two study cases using ceilometer data are shown. Comparison with temperature-based estimations from a collocated microwave radiometer have been used for validation. The method can be useful for estimating the stable boundary layer height in sites with a ceilometer but without any available temperature profiler.