NOVAM evaluation from aerosol and lidar measurements in a tropical marine environment
conference paper
NOVAM, the Naval Oceanic Vertical Aerosol Model, has been developed to predict the nonuniform and nonlogarithmic extinction profiles that are often observed in the marine atmospheric boundary layer. The kernel of NOVAM is the Navy Aerosol Model (NAM) that calculates the aerosol size distribution at 10 m ASL from meteorological parameters. The aerosol profile is calculated from the surface layer size distribution with a physical model. Extinction profiles are calculated from the aerosol profiles using a Mie code. NOVAM requires validation in different meteorological scenarios. During the KEY-90 experiment, July 1990 near Marathon, Florida, NOVAM was validated in a tropical marine environment. We measured the surface layer particle size distribution profile at levels from 0.5 to 4 m ASL to evaluate the large-particle end of NAM. The NOVAM prediction of the aerosol profile in the mixed layer was evaluated by lidar measurements of the 1.06 μm backscatter profile. The time-serial lidar measurements show the convective plumes and the variability in both the aerosol content at higher levels in the boundary layer and in the boundary layer height itself. Consequences for application of NOVAM for slant path transmission are discussed.
Topics
TNO Identifier
94519
Publisher
SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering.
Source title
Atmospheric Propagation and Remote Sensing, 20-24 April, Orlando, FL
Editor(s)
Kohnle, A.
Miller, W.B.
Miller, W.B.
Place of publication
Bellingham, WA.
Pages
14-22