REAL-IOPS

Robust Evaluation of Atmospheric Lidars - Intensive Observation Periods

21 March 2026 - 30 June 2026

Lead Scientist: Scott Collis

Observatory: SGP (Southern Great Plains)

REAL-IOPs is requesting four intensive operational periods (IOPs) with three hourly sounding launches from 12 UTC to 03 UTC (12,15, 18, 21, 00, and 03). This will capture the establishment, growth, and decay of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) from sunup to well after sundown. The timing of these IOPs will be determined by forecasting, with REAL-IOP’s aim to capture four PBL evolutions: Deep well-mixed with a clear sky, deep well-mixed and cloud topped, a recovering PBL from a storm outflow or frontal boundary and a poorly mixed PBL (e.g., overcast or precipitating). The existence of an EarthCARE overpass will also be taken into account in the timing of the four IOPs. These thermodynamic profiles will become an open companion data set to the REAL LiDAR data, enabling validation and the development of new retrievals.