Ground-based remote sensing observation of the complex behaviour of the Marseille boundary layer during ESCOMPTE

• Published in: Atmospheric research Vol. 74; no. 1; pp. 403 - 433
• Main Authors: Delbarre, H., Augustin, P., Saïd, F., Campistron, B., Bénech, B., Lohou, F., Puygrenier, V., Moppert, C., Cousin, F., Fréville, P., Fréjafon, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-03-2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Boundary layer; Convection, turbulence, diffusion. Boundary layer structure and dynamics; Earth, ocean, space; ESCOMPTE; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Lidar; Meteorology; Sea breeze; Wind profiler; France; Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur; Europe; Mediterranean Basin; Lidar; Wind profiler; Sea breeze; ESCOMPTE; Boundary layer; Ground based measurement; Troposphere; Ozone; Remote sensing; Extinction index; Mesoscale; Atmospheric advection; Atmospheric turbulence; Complex terrain; Atmospheric boundary layer; Radar observation; Observation data; Numerical simulation; Sodar; Stratification; Concentration distribution; Reflectance
• ISSN: 0169-8095; 1873-2895
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2004.04.007

Ground-based remote sensing systems have been used during the ESCOMPTE campaign, to continuously characterize the boundary-layer behaviour through many atmospheric parameters (wind, extinction and ozone concentration distribution, reflectivity, turbulence). This analysis is focused on the comparison of the atmospheric stratification retrieved from a UV angular ozone lidar, an Ultra High Frequency wind profiler and a sodar, above the area of Marseille, on June 26th 2001 (Intensive Observation Period 2b). The atmospheric stratification is shown to be very complex including two superimposed sea breezes, with an important contribution of advection. The temporal and spatial evolution of the stratification observed by the UV lidar and by the UHF radar are in good agreement although the origin of the echoes of these systems is quite different. The complexity of the dynamic situation has only partially been retrieved by a non-hydrostatic mesoscale model used with a 3 km resolution.