Remote Sensing Of Three-Dimensional Winds With Elastic Lidar: Explanation Of Maximum Cross-Correlation Method

Abstract

Maximum cross-correlation provides a method to remotely determine highly resolved three-dimensional fields of horizontal winds with elastic lidar throughout large volumes of the planetary boundary layer (PBL). This paper details the technique and shows comparisons between elastic lidar winds, remotely sensed laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) wind profiles, and radiosonde winds. Radiosonde wind data were acquired at Barcelona, Spain, during the Barcelona Air-Quality Initiative (1992), and the LDV wind data were acquired at Sunland Park, New Mexico (N.M.), during the Border Area Air-Quality Study (1994). Comparisons show good agreement between the different instruments, and demonstrate the method useful for air pollution management at the local/regional scale. Elastic lidar winds could thus offer insight into aerosol and pollution transport within the PBL. Lidar wind fields might also be used to nudge or improve initialization and evaluation of atmospheric meteorological models.