LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging) is a measurement technique capable of observing the complex vertical structure of the atmosphere. Specifically, information can be provided related to the existence and extent of aerosols and clouds with high spatial (4 m vertical) and temporal (1 min) resolution, making it well-suited for understanding atmospheric dynamics and transport processes. ECCC researchers designed, built and deployed autonomous ground-based aerosol LIDAR systems to three different locations in the oil sands region – AMS13 (November 2012 to September 2013), Oski-ôtin (October 2013 to present) and Mannix (July 2013 to March 2016). Details of the instrument by Strawbridge, 2013 can be found in Atmos. Meas. Tech., 6, 801-816, 2013. The Oski-ôtin LIDAR system was upgraded in November 2016 to include additional aerosol channels, ozone and night time water vapour profiles.
Three LIDAR image products are produced daily at each location. The first plot (Figure 1a) is backscatter ratio at 532nm, which is plotted from ground to 13 km using a logarithmic colour bar as a function of the time of the day. The second plot (Figure 1b) is also the backscatter ratio at 532nm, but plotted from ground to 3 km and using a linear colour bar to easily identify relative increases and decreases in particle concentration in the lower atmosphere and boundary layer. The backscatter ratio is an optical quantity that is proportional to particle concentration. The black vertical bands on those images represent regions where LIDAR data are not available due to the presence of optically thick clouds or when the LIDAR system does not operate such as during precipitation events or instrument maintenance. The third plot (Figure 2) is the time dependence of the depolarization ratio at 532nm or 355nm using a linear colour scale. The depolarization ratio provides information about the shape of the particles. Together, the backscatter and depolarization products can provide information on the altitude and extent of particulate matter from biomass burning, mineral dust, industrial plumes, water clouds and ice clouds. The LIDAR data can also be used to identify long-range transport events, dispersion and mixing of plumes and boundary layer height. LIDAR observations also provide the vertical context for other ground and remote sensing systems at the measurement site and vertical profiles for model verification and validation. (See LIDAR Image Description-EngFr.pdf )
