MicroPulse Lidar and Ceilometer inter-comparison during Saharan dust intrusions over the Canary Islands

Abstract

This study presents an inter-comparison between a Vaisala CL51 ceilometer and a Micro Pulse Lidar (MPL) of both the Boundary Layer (BL) and the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) top heights during Saharan dust events from January to April 2011. This inter-comparison was performed at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Observatory in Tenerife, Canary Islands, within the Marine Boundary Layer. From January to April the Saharan dust intrusions usually occur at lower altitudes within the BL. One of the main goals of this study is to determine whether the CL51 ceilometer is capable to detect mineral dust within the SAL. To our knowledge, this is the first time this kind of study is attempted on a site close to Saharan dust sources.