Belfort Laser Ceilometer (BLC)
Note: This instrument is currently inactive and/or retired.
Active Dates: 8/11/1994 to 5/23/2000
Instrument Categories: Cloud Properties
General Overview
![Picture of the Belfort Laser Ceilometer (BLC) Model 7013C](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090508174933im_/http://www.arm.gov/instruments/images/blc.gif)
NOTE: THIS INSTRUMENT WAS REPLACED BY A VAISALA 25K CEILOMETER IN THE SUMMER OF 2000.
The Belfort laser ceilometer (BLC) Model 7013C field unit is a self-contained, ground-based, optical, active remote sensing instrument with the ability to detect and process several cloud-related parameters. These parameters include cloud height, extinction coefficient, cloud layers and time/date reference information. The ceilometer system detects clouds by transmitting pulses of infrared light vertically into the atmosphere. The receiver telescope detects scattered light from clouds and precipitation.
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 Datastreams
- blc - Belfort Laser Ceilometer (BLC): 30-s avgs of cloud base heights at up to 3 levels
- blcprof - Belfort Laser Ceilometer (BLC): profiles
Sites / Facilities
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- Southern Great Plains (SGP)
- Central Facility, Lamont, OK (C1)
Mentor(s)
Jimmy Voyles
(979) 690-9846
jimmy.voyles@pnl.gov