VAP : Cloud mask from Micropulse Lidar (MPLCMASK)

Instrument Categories
Cloud Properties

Sample plot generated by MPLCMASK. Click to enlarge the image.

An operational cloud boundary algorithm has been implemented for use with the ARM micropulse lidar (MPL) systems. In addition to retrieving cloud boundaries above 500 m, the Micropulse Lidar Cloud Mask (MPLCMASK) value-added product (VAP) applies lidar-specific corrections (i.e., range-square, background, deadtime, and overlap) to the measured backscattered lidar. Depolarization ratio is computed using the methodology developed by Flynn et al. (2007) for polarization-capable MPL systems. The cloud boundaries output from MPLCMASK will be the primary lidar cloud mask for input to the Active Remote Sensing of Clouds (ARSCL) VAP and will be applied to all MPL systems, including historical data sets.

This VAP processes data for the Southern Great Plains, North Slope of Alaska, Tropical Western Pacific, and ARM Mobile Facility sites.

For more information, see the MPLCMASK VAP report.

Output Products

30smplcmask1zwang : MPL: 30-second cloud mask using the first Z. Wang, et al algorithm

Primary Measurements

The following measurements are those considered scientifically relevant.

Locations

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, Australia (C3)
- Central Facility, Manus I., PNG (C1)
- Central Facility, Nauru Island (C2)
ARM Mobile Facility (FKB)
- Black Forest, Germany (M1)
ARM Mobile Facility (GAN)
- Gan Airport, Gan Island, Maldives (M1)
ARM Mobile Facility (GRW)
- Graciosa Island, Azores, Portugal (M1)
ARM Mobile Facility (HFE)
- Shouxian, Anhui, China (M1)