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Wildfire smoke cases: Lidar observations in Cyprus

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Wildfire smoke cases: Lidar observations in Cyprus Authors: Poutli, Maria; Mamouri, Rodanthi-Elisavet; Hadjimitsis, Diofantos G.; Nisantzi, Argyro; Ansmann, Albert Abstract: Uncontrolled fires, mainly in rural areas, can be considered as wildfires. According to IPCC (AR6), wildfire-favorable weather has likely become more common in southern Europe, northern Eurasia, the USA, and Australia over the past century. Wildfire smoke poses threats to climate, air quality, visibility, and human health, making further investigation of smoke particle properties crucial. In this study we analyze the smoke optical properties observed in the free troposphere of Limassol, Cyprus, during the summer period spanning 2021 to 2023. Using the Hysplit model and VIIRS satellite data the origin and the source of the air masses are confirmed while the particle depolarization ratios at 355 nm and 532 nm retrieved from the PollyXT multiwavelength polarization Raman lidar and reveal different levels of smoke aging. A total of 30 smoke cases were analyzed, with 17 of them classified as fresh smoke (travel time ≤ 1 day) and 13 of them as aged smoke (travel time ≥ 5 days). At 532 nm, depolarization ratios were higher for fresh smoke than aged, while at 355 nm, mean values were similar for both wavelengths. Aged smoke showed consistently higher values at 355 nm than at 532 nm. Mean lidar ratios ranged from 40–90 sr for both smoke types and wavelengths, with fresh smoke generally showing LR₅₃₂/LR₃₅₅ < 1. Further research on hygroscopic growth of smoke particles, as well as on fire radiative power of the wildfires observed will be conducted.

Two-year wind observation in Limassol, Cyprus: Monthly and Seasonal analysis from Doppler LiDAR at the CARO National Facility

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Two-year wind observation in Limassol, Cyprus: Monthly and Seasonal analysis from Doppler LiDAR at the CARO National Facility Authors: Chrysostomou, Konstantinos; Kotsias, George; Seifert, Patric; Bühl, Johannes; Nisantzi, Argyro; Hadjimitsis, Diofantos G.; Mamouri, Rodanthi-Elisavet Abstract: The National Facility of Cyprus Atmospheric Remote-Sensing Observatory (CARO) in Limassol, managed by the Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence, is a key ground-based station that offers complete insights into atmospheric dynamics, supports atmospheric monitoring, and advances climate research. Since January 2023, CARO is equipped with the HALO (Snoopy) Doppler LiDAR, a cutting-edge instrument that provides high-resolution vertical and horizontal wind profiles, offering an unprecedented view of wind dynamics in the region. This study analyzes two years of wind data (February 2023–January 2025) to investigate the diurnal, monthly, and seasonal variability of horizontal wind and to estimate the Mixing Layer Height (MLH) using vertical wind variance calculations. The results reveal distinct seasonal wind speed and direction patterns that are influenced by both the regional meteorology and the local topography, whereas the results also suggested that some of the months exhibited strongly similar trends, leading to their clustering into two main periods: the warm and the cold one. Moreover, MLH follows diurnal and seasonal cycles, driven by solar radiation and surface heating, showcasing their impact on boundary layer evolution. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the region’s wind climatology and intra-annual variability, emphasizing the complex interactions between atmospheric dynamics, local geography, and seasonal meteorological conditions in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Synergy of PollyXT Lidar & sun/sky photometer to retrieve aerosol properties utilizing GRASP algorithm in Limassol, Cyprus

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Synergy of PollyXT Lidar & sun/sky photometer to retrieve aerosol properties utilizing GRASP algorithm in Limassol, Cyprus Authors: Savva, Athina; Nisantzi, Argyro; Scarlatti, Francesco; Lopatin, Anton; Hadjimitsis, Diofantos G.; Mamouri, Rodanthi-Elisavet

Studying Desert Dust from the Sahara and the Middle East using the Cyprus Atmospheric Remote Sensing Observatory over Limassol, Cyprus

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Studying Desert Dust from the Sahara and the Middle East using the Cyprus Atmospheric Remote Sensing Observatory over Limassol, Cyprus Authors: Savva, Athina; Nisantzi, Argyro; Hadjimitsis, Diofantos G.; Ansmann, Albert; Mamouri, Rodanthi-Elisavet Abstract: The Eastern Mediterranean basin is frequently affected by mineral dust air masses originating from major desert dust regions such as the Sahara and the Middle East, transported by synopticscale meteorological systems. The primary objective of this study is to examine and characterize desert dust intrusions over Limassol, utilizing observations of the Cyprus Atmospheric Remote Sensing Observatory (CARO), a National Facility operated by the Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence. CARO NF, as an ACTRIS station, provides quality controlled and assured datasets. This study focuses on the detailed analysis of selected dust events over Limassol. A multiparameter aerosol typing scheme which relies on the intensive and extensive aerosol properties retrieved from PollyXT Raman-Polarization lidar is used for the characterization of the aerosol layers. This active remote sensing instrument has been operating continuously since October 2020, providing vertically resolved measurements of aerosol optical properties. The analysis is complemented by the AOD and inversion products from the CIMEL sun/sky photometer at the CUT-TEPAK site, which is part of the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) network. The synergetic dataset of lidar and sun-photometer observations enables the characterization of the upcoming dust layers with high spatiotemporal resolution. These observations provide constraints on aerosol classification, support the validation of dust transport models and satellite products.