VITAL I: Vertical profiling of the troposphere: Innovation, optimization and application, Part I

VITAL I took place from 12-23 August 2024 at the Jülich Observatory for Cloud Evolution (JOYCE), which is a National Facility of the ACTRIS European Research Infrastructure Consortium. Novel types of Atmospheric Boundayr Layer (ABL) profilers, that are being considered for next-generation ABL observational networks were thoroughly tested and evaluated. VITAL I is a core activity of the Hans Ertel Centre for Weather Research, a joint research initiative between German atmospheric research institutions and the German Meteorological Service DWD. A vertical profiling data set incuding multi-copter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) and the ground-based remote sensing profilers Doppler lidar, water vapor lidar and microwave radiometer was created and evaluated against the also included radiosondes and data from a 120 m meteorological tower. The data sets includes the following instrumental data. For extended metadata information see headers of data files. Filename Instrument(s) Data provider Included variables (ABL) vital_i_dl_wls200_kit Doppler lidar Karlsuhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Horizontal wind profile (vertical) vital_i_ec_meteotower_uoc Eddy covariance station University of Cologne Turbulence, temperature and gas concentrations (H2O, CO2) at 120 m vital_i_meteotower_fzj Standard meteorology Forschungszentrum Jülich Pressure, temperature, humidity, wind, radiation, precipitation from 120 m tower vital_i_mwr_hamhat_uhh Microwave radiometer University of Hamburg Along sight integrated water vapor, liquid water, temperature and humidity profiles (MWR_single) Vertical temperature profiles, best estimate (MWR_multi) vital_i_mwr_joyhat_uoc Microwave radiometer University of Cologne Along sight integrated water vapor, liquid water, temperature and humidity profiles (MWR_single) Vertical temperature profiles, best estimate (MWR_multi) vital_i_uas_utue Uncrewed aerial systems University of Tübingen Temperature, humidity, 3D wind components as a function of location and time vital_i_radiosonde_uoc Radiosonde University of Cologne Vertical profiles of temperature, humidity and horizontal wind vector throughout the troposphere vital_i_wvdial_kit Water vapor differential absorption lidar Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Vertical profiles of humidity