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Abstract: The Fluorescence Detector (FD) at the Pierre Auger Observatory measures the intensity of the scattered light from laser tracks generated by the Central Laser Facility (CLF) and the eXtreme Laser Facility (XLF) to monitor and estimate the vertical aerosol optical depth (τ(z,t)). This measurement is needed to obtain unbiased and reliable FD measurements of the arrival direction and energy of the primary cosmic ray, and the depth of the maximum shower development. The CLF was upgraded substantially in 2013 with the addition of a solid state laser, new generation GPS, a robotic beam calibration system, better thermal and dust isolation, and improved software. The upgrade also included a back-scatter Raman LIDAR to measure τ(z,t). The new features and applications of the upgraded instrument are described. These include the laser energy calibration and the atmospheric monitoring measurements. The first τ(z,t) results and comparisons after the upgrade are presented using different methods. The first method compares the FD hourly response to the scattered light from the CLF (or XLF) against a reference hourly profile measured during a clear night where zero aerosol contents are assumed. The second method simulates FD responses with different atmospheric parameters and selects the parameters that provide the best fit to the actual FD response. A third method uses the new Raman LIDAR receiver in-situ to measure the back-scatter light from the CLF laser. The results show a good data agreement for the first and second methods using FD stations located at the same distance from the facilities. Preliminary results of τ(z,t) using the Raman LIDAR are presented as well.
Found in: ključnih besedah
Summary of found: ...to monitor and estimate the vertical aerosol optical depth (τ(z,t)). This measurement is needed to obtain...
Keywords: Pierre Auger Observatory, extensive air showers, the Fluorescence Detector, atmospheric monitoring, vertical aerosol optical depth, the Central Laser Facility, the eXtreme Laser Facility
Published: 03.03.2016; Views: 3111; Downloads: 142
Fulltext (3,96 MB)

Abstract: From August to October 2010 lidar measurements of aerosols in the troposphere were performed at Otlica observatory, Slovenia, using a vertical scanning elastic lidar. The lidar data sample, which contains 38 nighttime vertical profiles of the mean aerosol extinction, was combined with continuous ozone concen- tration (O3), particulate matter concentrations (PM) and daily radiosonde data. The obtained radiosonde- and lidar-derived heights of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL), which varied considerably from day to day, were found to be in good agreement. The mean values of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 355 nm, were calculated separately for the ABL and for the free troposphere (FT). A ten-fold increase of the FT AOD was observed during the days with predicted presence of Saharan dust above the lidar site. To correlate AOD values with the type and origin of aerosols, backward trajectories of air-masses above Otlica were modeled using the HYSPLIT model and clustered. High ABL AOD values were found to be correlated with local circulations and slowly approaching air masses from the Balkans and low values with northwestern flows. The highest values correlated with southwestern flows originating in northern Africa.
Found in: ključnih besedah
Summary of found: ...agreement. The mean values of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 355 nm, were calculated...
Keywords: Aerosol, Optical depth, Lidar, Atmospheric boundary layer
Published: 22.02.2019; Views: 2040; Downloads: 0
Fulltext (2,42 MB)