The NDSC Ozone and Temperature LIDAR Algorithm Intercomparison Initiative (A2I): Project Overview

Thierry Leblanc (1) , I. S. Mcdermid (1) , P. von Der Gathen (2) , M. Müller (2) , F. Immler (2) , O. Schrems (2) , K. Stebel (3) , G. Hansen (3) , W. Steinbrecht (4) , H. Claude (4) , Andrea Pazmino (5) , Sophie Godin-Beekmann (5) , Gérard Ancellet (5) , Jean-Luc Baray (6) , Hassan Bencherif (6) , Y. Meijer (7) , D. Swart (7) , L. Twigg (8) , T. Mcgee (8) , J. Thayer (9) , J. Livingston (9) , Philippe Keckhut (5) , Alain Hauchecorne (5) , J. E. Barnes (10)

1 JPL - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
2 AWI - Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung = Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research = Institut Alfred-Wegener pour la recherche polaire et marine
3 NILU - Norsk Institutt for Luftforskning
4 DWD - Deutscher Wetterdienst [Offenbach]
5 SA - Service d'aéronomie
6 LPA - Laboratoire de physique de l'atmosphère
7 RIVM - National Institute for Public Health and the Environment [Bilthoven]
8 GSFC - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
9 SRI - SRI International [Menlo Park]
10 MLO - Mauna Loa Observatory

In September 2003, the Lidar Working Group (LWG) of the Network for Detection of Stratospheric Change (NDSC) initiated an extensive project to compare the ozone and temperature algorithms used within NDSC. This initiative, referred to later as Algorithm Intercomparison Initiative (A2I), uses simulated lidar signals to test and compare various parts of the ozone and temperature lidar algorithms. In addition to the fact that it meets the requirement of the NDSC protocols, this exercise allows the detailed assessment, by all the participants, of some of the sources and magnitudes of various uncertainties associated with the algorithms, and/or with the theoretical assumptions made in these algorithms. The outcome of the A2I is to try to find common grounds in the way ozone and temperature can be retrieved in order to reduce and possibly eradicate discrepancies due to algorithm issues alone. Specific issues such as homogenizing the choice of Rayleigh extinction cross-sections, ozone absorption cross-sections, a priori information, and the definition of the vertical resolutions are among the primary targets of the A2I outcome.

Domaines: Physique Atmosphérique et Océanique [physics.ao-ph]

Thierry Leblanc, I. S. Mcdermid, P. von Der Gathen, M. Müller, F. Immler, et al.. The NDSC Ozone and Temperature LIDAR Algorithm Intercomparison Initiative (A2I): Project Overview. 22nd International Laser Radar Conference (ILRC 2004), Jul 2004, Matera, Italy. pp.881. ⟨hal-00155169⟩