Instrument : Belfort Laser Ceilometer (BLC)

Note: blc is currently inactive and/or retired.

Active Dates
1994.08.11 - 2000.05.23

Instrument Categories
Cloud Properties

General Overview

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.

Output Datastreams

  • blc : Belfort Laser Ceilometer (BLC): 30-s avgs of cloud base heights at up to 3 levels
  • blcprof : Belfort Laser Ceilometer (BLC): profiles

Primary Measurements

The following measurements are those considered scientifically relevant.

Locations

  • Southern Great Plains (SGP)
    • Central Facility, Lamont, OK (C1)

Contact(s)

Douglas Sisterson
(630) 252-5836
dlsisterson@anl.gov