The first-of-its-kind lidar-based atmospheric measurement device provides atmospheric, cloud height, and mixing layer data with depolarisation.

Vaisala have announced the launch of Vaisala Lidar Ceilometer CL61, an unprecedented lidar ceilometer that improves standard ceilometer reporting by leveraging depolarisation technology, providing more refined and accurate data for greater situational awareness.

“With today’s constantly changing climate, meteorological organisations, environmental protection agencies, and airports need greater ceilometer performance to enable more accurate weather modeling,” said Samuli Hänninen, VP, Products and Technologies, Weather and Environment, Vaisala. “Our state-of-the-art ceilometer breaks through the ceiling in this meteorological technology to deliver high-quality profiling data that provides the insights needed to improve numerical weather prediction (NWP) models, understand icing conditions, and track particles such as smoke, volcanic ash, or sand plumes.”

CL61 leverages Vaisala’s cutting edge weather intelligence technologies to deliver uninterrupted, comprehensive, round-the-clock profiling data, even in the harshest weather conditions, for improved understanding of atmospheric conditions. The data provided by the instrument can be used to correct air quality modeling, provide data verification, and enable nowcasting for safer air travel and operations. CL61 also features enhanced single-lens optics, significantly improving signal-to-noise ratio, to provide high-resolution backscatter profiles — all in a cost-efficient design.

Vaisala Lidar Ceilometer CL61 offers more refined profiling data for deeper insights.  The depolarisation measurement capabilities enable accurate liquid/frozen differentiation, detection of dust, sand, and volcanic ash layers, and the ability to make short-term forecasts of precipitation. CL61 is operative 24/7 in all weather and locations. Scientific research-grade instruments have limitations on conditions (e.g., they typically can only be used when it is not raining), but CL61 is operative 24/7 in all weather, providing constant data availability regardless of prevailing weather conditions, and fills coverage gaps in urban areas. In addition, CL61’s depolarisation measurement provides data enabling the detection of volcanic ash eruptions, which can have significant effects on communities and their economies. CL61 also leverages proven single-lens optics, CL61 can exclusively and reliably detect low-altitude phenomena, such as clouds and shallow aerosol layers.

This unique device also offers cost-efficient pricing.  With functionality previously only available in scientific research-grade ceilometers, CL61 is significantly more affordable than devices delivering similar data. Operators will also be please with how easy it is to install and maintain. Using common data formats for easy integration with existing networks, CL61 installs from box to operation in just one hour. Plus, with no consumables and no field calibration required, CL61 is virtually maintenance-free, minimizing the lifetime cost of ownership.

“Today’s meteorological networks need to provide more detailed, accurate, and reliable atmospheric data and insights than ever before,” said Johanna Lentonen, Director, Weather Instruments, Weather and Environment, Vaisala. “The flexible and cost-effective CL61 was designed with these requirements in mind to empower decision-makers in weather, aviation, air quality management, and research institutes to integrate the device into existing networks and establish new networks as well as measurement campaigns.”