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Instrument

MPL
Micropulse Lidar

The Micropulse Lidar (MPL) is a ground-based lidar system used for cloud detection. It measures lidar backscatter at 532 nm to retrieve cloud properties such as cloud top and base height. It can also be used for the detection of aerosols. MPL has a vertical resolution of 15 m and a maximum range of 18 km. MPL can operate autonomously and typically provides 10-second averaged data.

NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory passes Antarctica's tallest peak, Mount Vinson, on Oct. 22, 2012, during a flight over the continent to measure changes in the massive ice sheet and sea ice. Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger (Photography courtesy NASA Images)

Overview

Instrument Details

Measurement Type

Lidar

Measurement/Variables

Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Lidar > Lidar Backscatter

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Top Height

Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Lidar

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Base Height

Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Lidar > Lidar Depolarization Ratio

Vertical Measurement Regions

Full Column Profile

Temporal Resolution

10 s

Spatial Resolution

15 m

Measurement Frequency

563.5 THz

Calibration Details

https://www.arm.gov/publications/tech_reports/handbooks/mpl_handbook.pdf

Online Information

https://arm.gov/capabilities/instruments/mpl

Lead Investigator
Paytsar Muradyan
Technical Contact
Paytsar Muradyan, Connor Flynn
Instrument Maker
Leica Geosystems
Funding Source
Currently unavailable
Overview Publications
Currently unavailable
Repositories
- Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC)
- data center outside NASA

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

Field site of rain gauges and soil moistures sensors from the IFloodS campaign

Field site of rain gauges and soil moistures sensors from the IFloodS campaign

Campaign Field Sites

62 Campaigns · 158 Instruments

Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Enhanced Shortwave Experiment

Southern Great Plains, Southwestern United States

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· 1 Data Product

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

Central and Midwest United States, California Coast, Northwest Africa, Alaska

view all deployment dates

· 131 Data Products

photo of the research vessel Ronald H Brown

photo of the research vessel Ronald H Brown

R/V Ronald H. Brown

3 Campaigns · 45 Instruments

CalWater

California, Sierra Nevada Range

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· 0 Data Products

Des Groseilliers

CCGS Des Groseilliers

1 Campaign · 11 Instruments

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

Central and Midwest United States, California Coast, Northwest Africa, Alaska

view all deployment dates

· 131 Data Products

Image of a FLUXNET tower in Harvard Forests, Maine

Image of a FLUXNET tower in Harvard Forests, Maine

Permanent Land Site

Campaign Permanent Land Sites

49 Campaigns · 75 Instruments

Middle Latitude Cirrus Experiment

South-central United States

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· 0 Data Products

SUbsonic aircraft: Contrail & Clouds Effects Special Study

Central and Western United States

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· 1 Data Product

Balloon Measurements of the Asian Tropopause Aerosol Layer

India, Saudi Arabia

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· 0 Data Products

Wisconsin Snow and Cloud Terra 2000 Experiment

Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, Canada, Wisconsin

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· 0 Data Products

Image of an oil drilling platform

Image of an oil drilling platform

Permanent Water Site

Campaign Permanent Water Sites

4 Campaigns · 12 Instruments

Chesapeake Lighthouse and Aircraft Measurements for Satellites

Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean

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· 5 Data Products

NOAA R/V Delaware II

1 Campaign · 2 Instruments

Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from COlumn and VERtically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality

Baltimore MD, San Joaquin Valley CA, Houston TX, Denver CO

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· 89 Data Products

Data Products

Filter data products from this instrument by specific campaigns, platforms, or formats.

Campaigns

Platforms

Formats

DISCOVER-AQ Maryland Deployment NOAA Delaware II Ship Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DISCOVERAQ_Maryland_Ship_NOAA-DelawareII_Data_1

CampaignsDeriving Information on Surface Conditions from COlumn and VERtically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality

PlatformsNOAA R/V Delaware II

FormatsHDF, ICARTT