G2.12

G2.12    Lack of rigorous temperature lidar error budget availability

Gap detailed description

Temperature lidars provide important information for trend detection in the middle atmosphere (connected to trends in the ozone layer). These are detected using lidar systems that often also measure the ozone layer. The lidar technique to measure temperature is sensitive to the presence of aerosol, which is an important contribution to the error budget. In addition, lidar techniques exist to measure temperature profile in the troposphere using the pure-rotational Raman technique that can be used in the presence of aerosol. For both techniques a rigorous error budget needs to be established.

Activities within GAIA-CLIM related to this gap

This gap will be addressed within GAIA-CLIM. A traceability chain will be set up and an error budget calculation scheme will be set up.

Gap remedy(s)

A traceability chain will be set up and an error budget calculation scheme will be compiled.

Measurable outcome of success

Established (published in peer reviewed journal) error budget calculation scheme.

Achievable outcomes

Organizational viability: high.

Indicative cost estimate: low.  Lidar experts will review existing materials from open literature and other projects (e.g. ACTRIS/EARLINET and ISSI lidar project), establish a methodology for setting up the traceability and establishing the error budget calculations.

Relevance

The issue is highly relevant for any application that uses ground based temperature lidar data as input or reference. In particular to detect temperature trends in the middle atmosphere and aerosol-cloud-humidity interactions.

Timebound

GAIA-CLIM deliverables from WP2.

Gap risks to non-resolution