Abstract

The National Center for Atmospheric Research Earth Observing Laboratory (EOL) is planning the development of the LOwer Troposphere Observing System (LOTOS), a new portable, integrated sensor network. The LOTOS is designed to allow simultaneous and coordinated sampling both vertically, through the... Show moreThe National Center for Atmospheric Research Earth Observing Laboratory (EOL) is planning the development of the LOwer Troposphere Observing System (LOTOS), a new portable, integrated sensor network. The LOTOS is designed to allow simultaneous and coordinated sampling both vertically, through the atmospheric planetary boundary layer, and horizontally, focusing on the interface of the atmosphere with the underlying surface and its coupling with the overlying free troposphere. The core of LOTOS consists of a network of (up to) five profiling nodes, each containing a suite of profiling instruments, where each node is surrounded by up to fifteen flux measuring towers. LOTOS is designed to provide an integrated set of measurements needed to address outstanding scientific challenges related to processes within the atmospheric surface layer, boundary layer, and the lower troposphere. LOTOS’ uniqueness lies in its ability to simultaneously sample both horizontally and vertically as an integrated system, but also in its flexibility to be easily relocated as a portable field-deployable system suitable for addressing a wide range of research needs. LOTOS will provide real-time data quality control, combine measurements from a variety of sensors into integrated data products, and provide real-time data displays. It is envisioned that LOTOS will become part of the deployable NSF Lower Atmosphere Observing Facilities (LAOF) and thus be available to a broad base of NSF users from both observational and modeling communities. LOTOS offers the potential for transformative understanding of the atmosphere as part of a coupled Earth system. This presentation will describe the background, motivation, plan, and timeline for the LOTOS’ proposed development. In summer of 2021 and in collaboration with the University of Oklahoma, EOL deployed a number of instruments at the Marshall Field Site to test a single LOTOS node. This deployment provided a rich dataset which is being used to develop integrated multi-platform data products, such as high-temporal resolution temperature and kinematic profiles that are extending from the surface to the mid-troposphere. The kinematic profiles are being derived from the wind profiler, Doppler lidar, and instrumented tower using an optimal estimation technique. Preliminary results of applying this method to both the thermodynamic and kinematic retrievals will be presented. Show less