Mixed layer height retrievals using MicroPulse Differential Absorption Lidar

Abstract

Accurate measurement of the mixed layer height (MLH) is a key observational capability necessary for many studies in weather forecasting, air quality assessment, and surface-atmosphere exchange. However, continuous MLH monitoring with backscatter lidars remains challenging under complex atmospheric conditions, including cloudy conditions and in the presence of residual layers. This study evaluates two complementary MLH retrieval algorithms using a single MicroPulse Differential Absorption Lidar (MPD): an aerosol-based approach that analyzes aerosol backscatter gradients with a wavelet technique and a thermodynamic technique based on the vertical structure of virtual potential temperature profiles. Both techniques were compared against MLH estimates from radiosondes, a Doppler wind lidar, and a high-resolution weather model using data from the M2HATS field campaign in Tonopah, NV, USA, supplemented by a smaller dataset from Boulder, CO, USA. The aerosol method achieved high temporal resolution and agreement with radiosonde MLH estimates under convective conditions (R2 = 0.819-0.919), but its MLH estimates deviated from other methods during morning and evening transitions due to residual layer interference. The thermodynamic method avoided these problems but had coarser resolution and degraded instrument performance beneath clouds (R2 = 0.661-0.845). Because lidar generally cannot penetrate clouds, conditions with clouds at or below the MLH are not considered, while those with clouds above the MLH are retained. The study highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each method. Together, they offer a path toward more reliable automatic MLH monitoring with a single instrument by capturing when different MLH definitions converge.