Variance processing for stable boundary-layer height estimation using backscatter lidar data: A discussion

In this paper we present a method for estimating the height of the nocturnal stable boundary layer by using lidar measurements and a single radiosonde for unambiguous initial guess. The method relies on the correlation between aerosol stratifications in the stable boundary layer and minimum variance levels in the attenuated backscatter profile. The method is based on calculating either temporal or spatial variance vertical profiles of the attenuated backscatter and threshold-limited decision. A radiosonde temperature-based estimation is used to provide an initial guess if several minimum variance regions are detected. Two study cases using ceilometer data are shown. Comparison with temperature-based estimations from a collocated microwave radiometer have been used for validation. The method can be useful for estimating the stable boundary layer height in sites with a ceilometer but without any available temperature profiler.This work was supported via Spanish Government–European Regional Development Funds project PGC2018-094132-B-I00 and EU H2020 ACTRIS-IMP (GA 871115). CommSensLab is a María-de-Maeztu Unit of Excellence funded by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Spain. The work of M.P. Araujo da Silva was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities under Grant PRE2018-086054. Data were provided by Jülich Observatory for Cloud Evolution (JOYCE-CF), a core facility funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft via grant DFG LO 901/7-1.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft