Lidar-Derived Distribution of Cloud Vertical Location and Extent

This paper summarizes the results of a statistical analysis of lidar-determined cloud geometrical properties measured during the 1989 and 1991 campaigns of the Experimental Cloud Lidar Pilot Study. Useful lidar descriptors are introduced to specify the bottom-, top-, and midcloud altitudes. These are used to describe the behavior of cloud vertical location and vertical extent during several months of observations using a dual wavelength (1064 and 532 nm) Nd:YAG lidar at Toronto. Frequency distributions of cloud height and cloud thickness are presented and the relationship of the lidar descriptors to cloud properties are discussed. These data are compared with other information on cloud geometry available in the literature.