TEAMx_DECIPHER_MonteBaldo Ceilometer Range-Corrected Backscatter Profiles (CNR-ISAC)

1. Short Description of the Sensor The Lufft CHM15k is an automated single-wavelength ceilometer based on pulsed lidar technology, designed for continuous monitoring of the atmospheric boundary layer, aerosol layers, and cloud base height. The instrument operates at near-infrared wavelength and detects the laser light backscattered by atmospheric particles such as aerosols, fog, and cloud droplets. The CHM15k is widely used in meteorological and atmospheric research networks for long-term unattended observations and operational monitoring. Its compact and robust design allows reliable operation under a wide range of environmental conditions. The ceilometer provides vertically resolved attenuated backscatter profiles and cloud base detection with high temporal resolution, making it suitable for boundary layer studies, aerosol transport analysis, and cloud monitoring applications. During the TEAMx_DECIPHER_MonteBaldo campaign, the ceilometer was operated in a non-standard horizontal viewing configuration rather than in the conventional vertically pointing setup. The laser beam was aligned approximately parallel to the ground and oriented from the Monte Baldo slope toward the Po Valley in order to investigate aerosol transport processes between the valley and the mountain environment under thermally driven circulation conditions. 1.1 Specification Parameter Specification Laser wavelength 1064 nm Measurement principle Elastic backscatter lidar Typical maximum range up to 15 km Cloud base detection 3 cloud layers Range resolution 15 m Temporal resolution 15 s Measurement orientation Vertical pointing Output products Range corrected signal (RCS) Operational mode Continuous automatic acquisition Outdoor protection Weatherproof enclosure Operating temperature −40°C to +50°C Power consumption < 100 W 2. Measurement Strategy during the Campaign During the TEAMx_DECIPHER_MonteBaldo campaign, the Lufft CHM15k operated continuously in a fixed horizontal line-of-sight configuration directed toward the Po Valley. The instrument continuously acquired elastic backscatter profiles along a single fixed direction in order to monitor aerosol transport processes over the Monte Baldo slope. The dataset includes Range Corrected Signal (RCS) profiles derived from the ceilometer measurements. Acquisition configuration · Measurement configuration: fixed horizontal line-of-sight measurement; · Measurement direction: toward the Po Valley; · Output product: range Corrected Signal (RCS) profiles; · Operation mode: continuous automatic acquisition during the campaign period. 2.1 Time period covered by the data The sensor measured continuously from 24 july until 23 september 2025. 2.2 Time zone UTC 2.3 Physical location LAT 45.66608633 N, LON 10.82184396 E, Elev. 1320 m a.s.l. 3. Data Processing 3.1 Description of derived parameters and processing techniques used Original data files are provided 4. Data Format A single netCDF file. 4.1 Data file structure The file corresponds to the observations collected by the ceilometer during its deployment period. 4.2 List of relevant parameters and units The data were acquired with a temporal resolution of 15 s. time range beta_raw 5. Data Remarks 5.1 Known missing data periods None 5.2 Software compatibility Any software that can read NetCDF files