Micropulse Lidar (MPL)
Instrument Categories: Cloud Properties
General Overview
![Picture of the Micropulse Lidar (MPL)](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080923005630im_/http://www.arm.gov/instruments/images/mpl.jpg)
The Micropulse Lidar (MPL) is a ground-based optical remote sensing system designed primarily to determine the altitude of clouds overhead. The physical principle is the same as for radar. Pulses of energy are transmitted into the atmosphere; the energy scattered back to the transceiver is collected and measured as a time-resolved signal.
From the time delay between each outgoing transmitted pulse and the backscattered signal, the distance to the scatterer is infered. Besides real-time detection of clouds, post-processing of the lidar return can also characterize the extent and properties of aerosol or other particle-laden regions.
Primary Measurements Taken
The following measurements are those considered scientifically relevant. Refer to the netCDF File Header Descriptions (Data Object Design Files) for the list of all available measurements, including those recorded for diagnostic or quality assurance purposes.
Available Value-Added Products
This instrument is an input to the following value-added products, which provide improved measurements or derived quantities.
- arscl1cloth - ARSCL: multiple outputs from first Clothiaux algorithms on BLC, MPL, MMCR
- arsclbnd1cloth - ARSCL: cloud boundaries from first Clothiaux algorithms on BLC, MPL, MMCR
- arsclcbh1cloth - ARSCL: cloud base height from first Clothiaux algorithms on BLC, MPL, MMCR
- mplcbh1scott - MPL: cloud base heights using the Scott/Spinhirne algorithm
- mplcmask1cloth - MPL: cloud mask using the first Clothiaux, et al algorithm
- mplnor1camp - MPL: backscatter profiles normalized and cloud detection routine applied.
- mplpolavg - Micropulse Lidar polarized (MPLPOL) data averaged to fixed 30 second interval
- mplsmask1cloth - MPL: "significance" mask using the first Clothiaux, et al algorithm
Available Datastreams
- mpl - Micropulse Lidar (MPL): cloud base and top heights
- mplpol - Micropulse Lidar (MPL) polarized: cloud base and top heights
- mplps - Micropulse Lidar: polarization of atmosphere
Sites / Facilities
Note: Click the "" to expand/collapse the list.
- North Slope Alaska (NSA)
- Central Facility, Barrow AK (C1)
- Southern Great Plains (SGP)
- Central Facility, Lamont, OK (C1)
- Tropical Western Pacific (TWP)
- Central Facility, Darwin, North Australia (C3)
- Central Facility, Manus I., PNG (C1)
- Central Facility, Nauru Island (C2)
- ARM Mobile Facility (FKB)
- Black Forest, Germany (M1)
- ARM Mobile Facility (NIM)
- Niamey, Niger (M1)
- ARM Mobile Facility (PYE)
- Point Reyes, CA (M1)
Mentor(s)
Richard Coulter
(630) 252-5833
rlcoulter@anl.gov