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Micropulse Lidar (MPL)

Instrument Categories: Cloud Properties

General Overview

Picture of the Micropulse Lidar (MPL)

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.

Available Datastreams

Sites / Facilities

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Mentor(s)

Richard Coulter
(630) 252-5833
rlcoulter@anl.gov