The SCC netCDF file format — Single Calculus Chain 0.2 documentation

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# The SCC netCDF file format

## Rationale

The Single Calculus Chain (SCC) is composed by two different modules:

- pre-processing module ( scc_preprocessing)
- optical processing module ( ELDA)

To perfom aerosol optical retrievals the SCC needs not only the raw lidar data but also a certain number of parameters to use in both pre-processing and optical processing stages. The SCC gets these parameters looking at two different locations:

- Single Calculus Chain relational database (SCC_DB)
- Input files

There are some paramenters that can be found only in the input files (those ones changing from measurement to measurement), others that can be found only in the SCC_DB and other ones that can be found in both these locations. In the last case, if a particular parameter is needed, the SCC will search first in the input files and then in SCC_DB. If the parameter is found in the input files the SCC will keep it without looking into SCC_DB.

The input files have to be submitted to the SCC in NetCDF format. At the present the SCC can handle four different types of input files:

1. Raw Lidar Data
2. Sounding Data
3. Overlap
4. Lidar Ratio

As already mentioned, the Raw Lidar Data file contains not only the raw lidar data but also other parameters to use to perform the pre-processing and optical processing. The Sounding Data file contains the data coming from a correlative radiosounding and it is used by the SCC for molecular density calculation. The Overlap file contains the measured overlap function. The Lidar Ratio file contains a lidar ratio profile to use in elastic backscatter retrievals. The Raw Lidar Data file is of course mandatory and the Sounding Data, Overlap and Lidar Ratio files are optional. If Sounding Data file is not submitted by the user, the molecular density will be calculated by the SCC using the “US Standard Atmosphere 1976”. If the Overlap file is not submitted by the user, the SCC will get the full overlap height from SCC_DB and it will produce optical results starting from this height. If Lidar Ratio file is not submitted by the user, the SCC will consider a fixed value for lidar ratio got from SCC_DB.

The user can decide to submit all these files or any number of them (of course the file Raw Lidar Data is mandatory). For example the user can submit together with the Raw Lidar Data file only the Sounding Data file or only the Overlap file.

This document provides a detailed explanation about the structure of the NetCDF input files to use for SCC data submission. All Earlinet groups should read it carefully because they have to produce such kind of input files if they want to use the SCC for their standard lidar retrievals. Every comments or suggestions regarding this document can be sent to Giuseppe D’Amico by e-mail at `damico@imaa.cnr.it`

This document is available for downloading at `www.earlinetasos.org`

In table tab:rawdata is reported a list of dimensions, variables and global attributes that can be used in the NetCDF Raw Lidar Data input file. For each of them it is indicated:

- The name. For the multidimensional variables also the corresponding dimensions are reported
- A description explaining the meaning
- The type
- If it is mandatory or optional

As already mentioned, the SCC can get some parameters looking first in the Raw Lidar Data input file and then into SCC_DB. This means that to use the parameters stored in SCC_DB the optional variables or optional global attributes must not appear within Raw Lidar Data file. This is the suggested and recommended way to use the SCC. Please include optional parameters in the Raw Lidar Data only as an exception.

In table tab:sounding, tab:overlap and tab:lr are reported all the information about the structure of Sounding Data, Overlap and Lidar Ratio input files respectively.

## Example

Let’s now consider an example of Raw Lidar Data input file. Suppose we want to generate NetCDF input file corresponding to a measurement with the following properties:

Start Date | \(30^{th}\) January 2009
Start Time UT | 00:00:01
Stop Time UT | 00:05:01
Station Name | Dummy station
Earlinet call-sign | cc
Pointing angle | 5 degrees with respect to the zenith

Moreover suppose that this measurement is composed by the following lidar channels:

1. 1064 lidar channel

   Emission wavelength=1064nm | Detection wavelength=1064nm
   Time resolution=30s | Number of laser shots=1500
   Number of bins=3000 | Detection mode=analog
   Range resolution=7.5m | Polarization state=total

2. 532 cross lidar channel

   Emission wavelength=532nm | Detection wavelength=532nm
   Time resolution=60s | Number of laser shots=3000
   Number of bins=5000 | Detection mode=photoncounting
   Range resolution=15m | Polarization state=cross

3. 532 parallel lidar channel

   Emission wavelength=532nm | Detection wavelength=532nm
   Time resolution=60s | Number of laser shots=3000
   Number of bins=5000 | Detection mode=photoncounting
   Range resolution=15m | Polarization state=parallel

4. 607 \(N_2\) vibrational Raman channel

   Emission wavelength=532nm | Detection wavelength=607nm
   Time resolution=60s | Number of laser shots=3000
   Number of bins=5000 | Detection mode=photoncounting
   Range resolution=15m

Finally let’s assume we have also performed dark measurements before the lidar measurements from the 23:50:01 UT up to 23:53:01 UT of 29:math:^mathrmth January 2009.

### Dimensions

Looking at table tab:rawdata we have to fix the following dimensions:

    points
    channels
    time
    nb_of_time_scales
    scan_angles
    time_bck

The dimension `time` is unlimited so we don’t have to fix it.

We have 4 lidar channels so:

    channels=4

Regarding the dimension `points` we have only one channel with a number of vertical bins equal to 3000 (the 1064nm) and all other channels with 5000 vertical bins. In cases like this the dimension `points` has to be fixed to the maximum number of vertical bins so:

    points=5000

Moreover only one channel (1064nm) is acquired with a time resolution of 30 seconds, all the other channels have a time resolution of 60 seconds. This means that we have to define two different time scales. We have to set:

    nb_of_time_scales=2

The measurement is performed only at one scan angle (5 degrees with respect to the zenith) so:

    scan_angles=1

We have 3 minutes of dark measurements and two different time scales one with 60 seconds time resolution and the other one with 30 seconds time resolution. So we will have 3 different dark profiles for the channels acquired with the first time scale and 6 for the lidar channels acquired with the second time scale. We have to fix the dimension `time_bck` as the maximum between these values:

    time_bck=6

### Variables

In this section it will be explained how to fill all the possible variables either mandatory or optional of Raw Lidar Data input file.

Raw_Data_Start_Time(time, nb_of_time_scales)

  This 2 dimensional mandatory array has to contain the acquisition start time (in seconds from the time given by the global attribute `RawData_Start_Time_UT`) of each lidar profile. In this example we have two different time scales: one is characterized by steps of 30 seconds (the 1064nm is acquired with this time scale) the other by steps of 60 seconds (532cross, 532parallel and 607nm). Moreover the measurement start time is 00:00:01 UT and the measurement stop time is 00:05:01 UT. In this case we have to define:

      Raw_Data_Start_Time =
        0, 0,
        60, 30,
        120, 60,
        180, 90,
        240, 120,
        _, 150,
        _, 180,
        _, 210,
        _, 240,
        _, 270 ;

  The order used to fill this array defines the correspondence between the different time scales and the time scale index. In this example we have a time scale index of 0 for the time scale with steps of 60 seconds and a time scale index of 1 for the other one.

Raw_Data_Stop_Time(time, nb_of_time_scales)

  The same as previous item but for the data acquisition stop time. Following a similar procedure we have to define:

      Raw_Data_Stop_Time =
        60, 30,
        120, 60,
        180, 90,
        240, 120,
        300, 150,
        _, 180,
        _, 210,
        _, 240,
        _, 270,
        _, 300 ;

Raw_Lidar_Data(time, channels, points)

  This 3 dimensional mandatory array has to be filled with the time-series of raw lidar data. The photoncounting profiles have to submitted in counts (so as integers) while the analog ones in mV. The order the user chooses to fill this array defines the correspondence between channel index and lidar data.

  For example if we fill this array in such way that:

  Raw_Lidar_Data(time,0,points | \(\rightarrow\) is the time-series of 1064 nm
  Raw_Lidar_Data(time,1,points | \(\rightarrow\) is the time-series of 532 cross
  Raw_Lidar_Data(time,2,points | \(\rightarrow\) is the time-series of 532 parallel
  Raw_Lidar_Data(time,3,points | \(\rightarrow\) is the time-series of 607 nm

  from now on the channel index 0 is associated to the 1064 channel, 1 to the 532 cross, 2 to the 532 parallel and 3 to the 607nm.

Raw_Bck_Start_Time(time_bck, nb_of_time_scales)

  This 2 dimensional optional array has to contain the acquisition start time (in seconds from the time given by the global attribute `RawBck_Start_Time_UT`) of each dark measurements profile. Following the same procedure used for the variable `Raw_Data_Start_Time` we have to define:

      Raw_Bck_Start_Time =
        0, 0,
        60, 30,
        120, 60,
        _, 90,
        _, 120,
        _, 150;

Raw_Bck_Stop_Time(time_bck, nb_of_time_scales)

  The same as previous item but for the dark acquisition stop time. Following a similar procedure we have to define:

      Raw_Bck_Stop_Time =
        60, 30,
        120, 60,
        180, 90,
        _, 120,
        _, 150,
        _, 180 ;

Background_Profile(time_bck, channels, points)

  This 3 dimensional optional array has to be filled with the time-series of the dark measurements data. The photoncounting profiles have to submitted in counts (so as integers) while the analog ones in mV. The user has to fill this array following the same order used in filling the array `Raw_Lidar_Data`:

  Background_Profile(time_bck,0,points | \(\rightarrow\) dark time-series at 1064 nm
  Background_Profile(time_bck,1,points | \(\rightarrow\) dark time-series at 532 cross
  Background_Profile(time_bck,2,points | \(\rightarrow\) dark time-series at 532 parallel
  Background_Profile(time_bck,3,points | \(\rightarrow\) dark time-series at 607 nm

channel_ID(channels)

  This mandatory array provides the link between the channel index within the Raw Lidar Data input file and the channel ID in SCC_DB. To fill this variable the user has to know which channel IDs in SCC_DB correspond to his lidar channels. For this purpose the SCC, in its final version will provide to the user a special tool to get these channel IDs through a Web interface. At the moment this interface is not yet available and these channel IDs will be communicated directly to the user by the NA5 people.

  Anyway to continue the example let’s suppose that the four lidar channels taken into account are mapped into SCC_DB with the following channel IDs:

  1064 nm | \(\rightarrow\) channel ID=7
  532 cross | \(\rightarrow\) channel ID=5
  532 parallel | \(\rightarrow\) channel ID=6
  607 nm | \(\rightarrow\) channel ID=8

  > In this case we have to define:

      channel_ID = 7, 5, 6, 8 ;

id_timescale(channels)

  This mandatory array is introduced to determine which time scale is used for the acquisition of each lidar channel. In particular this array defines the link between the channel index and the time scale index. In our example we have two different time scales. Filling the arrays `Raw_Data_Start_Time` and `Raw_Data_Stop_Time` we have defined a time scale index of 0 for the time scale with steps of 60 seconds and a time scale index of 1 for the other one with steps of 30 seconds. In this way this array has to be set as:

      id_timescale = 1, 0, 0, 0 ;

Laser_Pointing_Angle(scan_angles

  This mandatory array contains all the scan angles used in the measurement. In our example we have only one scan angle of 5 degrees with respect to the zenith, so we have to define:

      Laser_Pointing_Angle = 5 ;

Laser_Pointing_Angle_of_Profiles(time, nb_of_time_scales)

  This mandatory array is introduced to determine which scan angle is used for the acquisition of each lidar profile. In particular this array defines the link between the time and time scales indexes and the scan angle index. In our example we have a single scan angle that has to correspond to the scan angle index 0. So this array has to be defined as:

      Laser_Pointing_Angle_of_Profiles =
        0, 0,
        0, 0,
        0, 0,
        0, 0,
        0, 0,
        _, 0,
        _, 0,
        _, 0,
        _, 0,
        _, 0 ;

Laser_Shots(time, channels)

  This mandatory array stores the laser shots accumulated at each time for each channel. In our example the number of laser shots accumulated is 1500 for the 1064nm channels and 3000 for all the other channels. Moreover the laser shots do not change with the time. So we have to define this array as:

      Laser_Shots =
       1500, 3000, 3000, 3000,
       1500, 3000, 3000, 3000,
       1500, 3000, 3000, 3000,
       1500, 3000, 3000, 3000,
       1500, 3000, 3000, 3000,
       1500, _, _, _,
       1500, _, _, _,
       1500, _, _, _,
       1500, _, _, _,
       1500, _, _, _ ;

Emitted_Wavelength(channels)

  This optional array defines the link between the channel index and the emission wavelength for each lidar channel. The wavelength has to be expressed in nm. This information can be also taken from SCC_DB. In our example we have:

      Emitted_Wavelength = 1064, 532, 532, 532 ;

Detected_Wavelength(channels)

  This optional array defines the link between the channel index and the detected wavelength for each lidar channel. Here detected wavelength means the value of center of interferential filter expressed in nm. This information can be also taken from SCC_DB. In our example we have:

      Detected_Wavelength = 1064, 532, 532, 607 ;

Raw_Data_Range_Resolution(channels)

  This optional array defines the link between the channel index and the raw range resolution for each channel. If the scan angle is different from zero this quantity is different from the vertical resolution. More precisely if \(\alpha\) is the scan angle used and \(\Delta z\) is the range resolution the vertical resolution is calculated as \(\Delta z'=\Delta z \cos\alpha\). This array has to be filled with \(\Delta z\) and not with \(\Delta z'\). The unit is meters. This information can be also taken from SCC_DB. In our example we have:

      Raw_Data_Range_Resolution = 7.5, 15.0, 15.0, 15.0 ;

ID_Range(channels)

  This optional array defines if a particular channel is configured as high, low or ultranear range channel. In particular a value 0 indicates a low range channel, a value 1 a high range channel and a value of 2 an ultranear range channel. If for a particular channel you don’t separate between high and low range channel, please set the corresponding value to 1. This information can be also taken from SCC_DB. In our case we have to set:

      ID_Range = 1, 1, 1, 1 ;

Scattering_Mechanism(channels)

  This optional array defines the scattering mechanism involved in each lidar channel. In particular the following values are adopted:

  0 | \(\rightarrow\) Total elastic backscatter
  1 | \(\rightarrow\) \(N_2\) vibrational Raman backscatter
  2 | \(\rightarrow\) Cross polarization elastic backscatter
  3 | \(\rightarrow\) Parallel polarization elastic backscatter
  4 | \(\rightarrow\) \(H_2O\) vibrational Raman backscatter
  5 | \(\rightarrow\) Rotational Raman Stokes line close to elastic line
  6 | \(\rightarrow\) Rotational Raman Stokes line far from elastic line
  7 | \(\rightarrow\) Rotational Raman anti-Stokes line close to elastic line
  8 | \(\rightarrow\) Rotational Raman anti-Stokes line far from elastic line
  9 | \(\rightarrow\) Rotational Raman Stokes and anti-Stokes lines close to elastic line
  10 | \(\rightarrow\) Rotational Raman Stokes and anti-Stokes lines far from elastic line

  This information can be also taken from SCC_DB. In our example we have:

      Scattering_Mechanism = 0, 2, 3, 1 ;

Acquisition_Mode(channels)

  This optional array defines the acquisition mode (analog or photoncounting) involved in each lidar channel. In particular a value of 0 means analog mode and 1 photoncounting mode. This information can be also taken from SCC_DB. In our example we have:

      Acquisition_Mode = 0, 1, 1, 1 ;

Laser_Repetition_Rate(channels)

  This optional array defines the repetition rate in Hz used to acquire each lidar channel. This information can be also taken from SCC_DB. In our example we are supposing we have only one laser with a repetition rate of 50 Hz so we have to set:

      Laser_Repetition_Rate = 50, 50, 50, 50 ;

Dead_Time(channels)

  This optional array defines the dead time in ns associated to each lidar channel. The SCC will use the values given by this array to correct the photoncounting signals for dead time. Of course for analog signals no dead time correction will be applied (for analog channels the corresponding dead time values have to be set to undefined value). This information can be also taken from SCC_DB. In our example the 1064 nm channel is acquired in analog mode so the corresponding dead time value has to be undefined. If we suppose a dead time of 10 ns for all other channels we have to set:

      Dead_Time = _, 10, 10, 10 ;

Dead_Time_Corr_Type(channels

  This optional array defines which kind of dead time correction has to be applied on each photoncounting channel. The SCC will correct the data supposing a not-paralyzable channel if a value of 0 is found while a paralyzable channel is supposed if a value of 1 is found. Of course for analog signals no dead time correction will be applied and so the corresponding values have to be set to undefined value. This information can be also taken from SCC_DB. In our example the 1064 nm channel is acquired in analog mode so the corresponding has to be undefined. If we want to consider all the photoncounting signals as not-paralyzable ones: we have to set:

      Dead_Time_Corr_Type = _, 0, 0, 0 ;

Trigger_Delay(channels)

  This optional array defines the delay (in ns) of the middle of the first rangebin with respect to the output laser pulse for each lidar channel. The SCC will use the values given by this array to correct for trigger delay. This information can be also taken from SCC_DB. Let’s suppose that in our example all the photoncounting channels are not affected by this delay and only the analog channel at 1064nm is acquired with a delay of 50ns. In this case we have to set:

      Trigger_Delay = 50, 0, 0, 0 ;

Background_Mode(channels

  This optional array defines how the atmospheric background has to be subtracted from the lidar channel. Two options are available for the calculation of atmospheric background:

  1. Average in the far field of lidar channel. In this case the value of this variable has to be 1
  2. Average within pre-trigger bins. In this case the value of this variable has to be 0

  This information can be also taken from SCC_DB. Let’s suppose in our example we use the pre-trigger for the 1064nm channel and the far field for all other channels. In this case we have to set:

      Background_Mode = 0, 1, 1, 1 ;

Background_Low(channels)

  This mandatory array defines the minimum altitude (in meters) to consider in calculating the atmospheric background for each channel. In case pre-trigger mode is used the corresponding value has to be set to the rangebin to be used as lower limit (within pre-trigger region) for background calculation. In our example, if we want to calculate the background between 30000 and 50000 meters for all photoncounting channels and we want to use the first 500 pre-trigger bins for the background calculation for the 1064nm channel we have to set:

      Background_Low= 0, 30000, 30000, 30000 ;

Background_High(channels)

  This mandatory array defines the maximum altitude (in meters) to consider in calculating the atmospheric background for each channel. In case pre-trigger mode is used the corresponding value has to be set to the rangebin to be used as upper limit (within pre-trigger region) for background calculation. In our example, if we want to calculate the background between 30000 and 50000 meters for all photoncounting channels and we want to use the first 500 pre-trigger bins for the background calculation for the 1064nm channel we have to set:

      Background_High = 500, 50000, 50000, 50000 ;

Molecular_Calc

  This mandatory variable defines the way used by SCC to calculate the molecular density profile. At the moment two options are available:

  1. US Standard Atmosphere 1976. In this case the value of this variable has to be 0
  2. Radiosounding. In this case the value of this variable has to be 1

  If we decide to use the option 1. we have to provide also the measured pressure and temperature at lidar station level. Indeed if we decide to use the option 2. a radiosounding file has to be submitted separately in NetCDF format (the structure of this file is summarized in table tab:sounding). Let’s suppose we want to use the option 1. so:

      Molecular_Calc = 0 ;

Pressure_at_Lidar_Station

  Because we have chosen the US Standard Atmosphere for calculation of the molecular density profile we have to give the pressure in hPa at lidar station level:

      Pressure_at_Lidar_Station = 1010 ;

Temperature_at_Lidar_Station

  Because we have chosen the US Standard Atmosphere for calculation of the molecular density profile we have to give the temperature in C at lidar station level:

      Temperature_at_Lidar_Station = 19.8 ;

Depolarization_Factor(channels)

  This array is required only for lidar systems that use the two depolarization channels for the backscatter retrieval. It represents the factor \(f\) to calculate the total backscatter signal \(S_t\) combining its cross \(S_c\) and parallel \(S_p\) components: \(S_t=S_p+fS_c\). This factor is mandatory only for systems acquiring \(S_c\) and \(S_p\) and not \(S_t\). For systems acquiring \(S_c\), \(S_p\) and \(S_t\) this factor is optional and it will be used only for depolarizaton ratio calculation. Moreover only the values of the array corresponding to cross polarization channels will be considered; all other values will be not taken into account and should be set to undefined value. In our example for the wavelength 532nm we have only the cross and the parallel components and not the total one. So we have to give the value of this factor only in correspondence of the 532nm cross polarization channel that corresponds to the channel index 1. Suppose that this factor is 0.88. Moreover, because we don’t have any other depolarization channels we have also to set all other values of the array to undefined value.

      Depolarization_Factor = _,0.88,_,_ ;

LR_Input(channels)

  This array is required only for lidar channels for which elastic backscatter retrieval has to be performed. It defines the lidar ratio to be used within this retrieval. Two options are available:

  1. The user can submit a lidar ratio profile. In this case the value of this variable has to be 0.
  2. A fixed value of lidar ratio can be used. In this case the value of this variable has to be 1.

  If we decide to use the option 1. a lidar ratio file has to be submitted separately in NetCDF format (the structure of this file is summarized in table tab:lr). If we decide to use the option 2. the fixed value of lidar ratio will be taken from SCC_DB. In our example we have to give a value of this array only for the 1064nm lidar channel because for the 532nm we will be able to retrieve a Raman backscatter coefficient. In case we want to use the fixed value stored in SCC_DB we have to set:

      LR_Input = 1,_,_,_ ;

DAQ_Range(channels)

  This array is required only if one or more lidar signals are acquired in analog mode. It gives the analog scale in mV used to acquire the analog signals. In our example we have only the 1064nm channel acquired in analog mode. If we have used a 100mV analog scale to acquire this channel we have to set:

      DAQ_Range = 100,_,_,_ ;

### Global attributes

Measurement_ID

  This mandatory global attribute defines the measurement ID corresponding to the actual lidar measurement. It is a string composed by 12 characters. The first 8 characters give the start date of measurement in the format YYYYMMDD. The next 2 characters give the Earlinet call-sign of the station. The last 2 characters are used to distinguish between different time-series within the same date. In our example we have to set:

      Measurement_ID= "20090130cc00" ;

RawData_Start_Date

  This mandatory global attribute defines the start date of lidar measurements in the format YYYYMMDD. In our case we have:

      RawData_Start_Date = "20090130" ;

RawData_Start_Time_UT

  This mandatory global attribute defines the UT start time of lidar measurements in the format HHMMSS. In our case we have:

      RawData_Start_Time_UT = "000001" ;

RawData_Stop_Time_UT``

  This mandatory global attribute defines the UT stop time of lidar measurements in the format HHMMSS. In our case we have:

      RawData_Stop_Time_UT = "000501" ;

RawBck_Start_Date

  This optional global attribute defines the start date of dark measurements in the format YYYYMMDD. In our case we have:

      RawBck_Start_Date = "20090129" ;

RawBck_Start_Time_UT

  This optional global attribute defines the UT start time of dark measurements in the format HHMMSS. In our case we have:

      RawBck_Start_Time_UT = "235001" ;

RawBck_Stop_Time_UT

  This optional global attribute defines the UT stop time of dark measurements in the format HHMMSS. In our case we have:

      RawBck_Stop_Time_UT = "235301" ;

## Example of file (CDL format)

To summarize we have the following NetCDF Raw Lidar Data file (in CDL format):

    dimensions:
            points = 5000 ;
            channels = 4 ;
            time = UNLIMITED ; // (10 currently)
            nb_of_time_scales = 2 ;
            scan_angles = 1 ;
            time_bck = 6 ;
    variables:
            int channel_ID(channels) ;
            int Laser_Repetition_Rate(channels) ;
            double Laser_Pointing_Angle(scan_angles) ;
            int ID_Range(channels) ;
            int Scattering_Mechanism(channels) ;
            double Emitted_Wavelength(channels) ;
            double Detected_Wavelength(channels) ;
            double Raw_Data_Range_Resolution(channels) ;
            int Background_Mode(channels) ;
            double Background_Low(channels) ;
            double Background_High(channels) ;
            int Molecular_Calc ;
            double Pressure_at_Lidar_Station ;
            double Temperature_at_Lidar_Station ;
            int id_timescale(channels) ;
            double Dead_Time(channels) ;
            int Dead_Time_Corr_Type(channels) ;
            int Acquisition_Mode(channels) ;
            double Trigger_Delay(channels) ;
            int LR_Input(channels) ;
            int Laser_Pointing_Angle_of_Profiles(time, nb_of_time_scales) ;
            int Raw_Data_Start_Time(time, nb_of_time_scales) ;
            int Raw_Data_Stop_Time(time, nb_of_time_scales) ;
            int Raw_Bck_Start_Time(time_bck, nb_of_time_scales) ;
            int Raw_Bck_Stop_Time(time_bck, nb_of_time_scales) ;
            int Laser_Shots(time, channels) ;
            double Raw_Lidar_Data(time, channels, points) ;
            double Background_Profile(time_bck, channels, points) ;
            double DAQ_Range(channels) ;

    // global attributes:
                    :Measurement_ID = "20090130cc00" ;
                    :RawData_Start_Date = "20090130" ;
                    :RawData_Start_Time_UT = "000001" ;
                    :RawData_Stop_Time_UT = "000501" ;
                    :RawBck_Start_Date = "20090129" ;
                    :RawBck_Start_Time_UT = "235001" ;
                    :RawBck_Stop_Time_UT = "235301" ;

    data:

     channel_ID = 7, 5, 6, 8 ;

     Laser_Repetition_Rate = 50, 50, 50, 50 ;

     Laser_Pointing_Angle = 5 ;

     ID_Range = 1, 1, 1, 1 ;

     Scattering_Mechanism = 0, 2, 3, 1 ;

     Emitted_Wavelength = 1064, 532, 532, 532 ;

     Detected_Wavelength = 1064, 532, 532, 607 ;

     Raw_Data_Range_Resolution = 7.5, 15, 15, 15 ;

     Background_Mode = 0, 1, 1, 1 ;

     Background_Low = 0, 30000, 30000, 30000 ;

     Background_High = 500, 50000, 50000, 50000 ;

     Molecular_Calc = 0 ;

     Pressure_at_Lidar_Station = 1010 ;

     Temperature_at_Lidar_Station = 19.8 ;

     id_timescale = 1, 0, 0, 0 ;

     Dead_Time = _, 10, 10, 10 ;

     Dead_Time_Corr_Type = _, 0, 0, 0 ;

     Acquisition_Mode = 0, 1, 1, 1 ;

     Trigger_Delay = 50, 0, 0, 0 ;

     LR_Input = 1,_,_,_ ;

     DAQ_Range = 100,_,_,_ ;

     Laser_Pointing_Angle_of_Profiles =
      0, 0,
      0, 0,
      0, 0,
      0, 0,
      0, 0,
      _, 0,
      _, 0,
      _, 0,
      _, 0,
      _, 0 ;

     Raw_Data_Start_Time =
      0, 0,
      60, 30,
      120, 60,
      180, 90,
      240, 120,
      _, 150,
      _, 180,
      _, 210,
      _, 240,
      _, 270 ;

     Raw_Data_Stop_Time =
      60, 30,
      120, 60,
      180, 90,
      240, 120,
      300, 150,
      _, 180,
      _, 210,
      _, 240,
      _, 270,
      _, 300 ;

     Raw_Bck_Start_Time =
      0, 0,
      60, 30,
      120, 60,
      _, 90,
      _, 120,
      _, 150;

    Raw_Bck_Stop_Time =
      60, 30,
      120, 60,
      180, 90,
      _, 120,
      _, 150,
      _, 180 ;

     Laser_Shots =
      1500, 3000, 3000, 3000,
      1500, 3000, 3000, 3000,
      1500, 3000, 3000, 3000,
      1500, 3000, 3000, 3000,
      1500, 3000, 3000, 3000,
      1500, _, _, _,
      1500, _, _, _,
      1500, _, _, _,
      1500, _, _, _,
      1500, _, _, _ ;

     Raw_Lidar_Data = ...

     Background_Profile = ...

Please keep in mind that in case you submit a file like the previous one all the parameters present in it will be used by the SCC even if you have different values for the same parameters within the SCC_DB. If you want to use the values already stored in SCC_DB (this should be the usual way to use SCC) the Raw Lidar Data input file has to be modified as follows:

    dimensions:
            points = 5000 ;
            channels = 4 ;
            time = UNLIMITED ; // (10 currently)
            nb_of_time_scales = 2 ;
            scan_angles = 1 ;
            time_bck = 6 ;
    variables:
            int channel_ID(channels) ;
            double Laser_Pointing_Angle(scan_angles) ;
            double Background_Low(channels) ;
            double Background_High(channels) ;
            int Molecular_Calc ;
            double Pressure_at_Lidar_Station ;
            double Temperature_at_Lidar_Station ;
            int id_timescale(channels) ;
            int Laser_Pointing_Angle_of_Profiles(time, nb_of_time_scales) ;
            int Raw_Data_Start_Time(time, nb_of_time_scales) ;
            int Raw_Data_Stop_Time(time, nb_of_time_scales) ;
            int Raw_Bck_Start_Time(time_bck, nb_of_time_scales) ;
            int Raw_Bck_Stop_Time(time_bck, nb_of_time_scales) ;
            int LR_Input(channels) ;
            int Laser_Shots(time, channels) ;
            double Raw_Lidar_Data(time, channels, points) ;
            double Background_Profile(time_bck, channels, points) ;
            double DAQ_Range(channels) ;

    // global attributes:
                    :Measurement_ID = "20090130cc00" ;
                    :RawData_Start_Date = "20090130" ;
                    :RawData_Start_Time_UT = "000001" ;
                    :RawData_Stop_Time_UT = "000501" ;
                    :RawBck_Start_Date = "20090129" ;
                    :RawBck_Start_Time_UT = "235001" ;
                    :RawBck_Stop_Time_UT = "235301" ;

    data:

     channel_ID = 7, 5, 6, 8 ;

     Laser_Pointing_Angle = 5 ;

     Background_Low = 0, 30000, 30000, 30000 ;

     Background_High = 500, 50000, 50000, 50000 ;

     Molecular_Calc = 0 ;

     Pressure_at_Lidar_Station = 1010 ;

     Temperature_at_Lidar_Station = 19.8 ;

     id_timescale = 1, 0, 0, 0 ;

     LR_Input = 1,_,_,_ ;

     DAQ_Range = 100,_,_,_ ;

     Laser_Pointing_Angle_of_Profiles =
      0, 0,
      0, 0,
      0, 0,
      0, 0,
      0, 0,
      _, 0,
      _, 0,
      _, 0,
      _, 0,
      _, 0 ;

     Raw_Data_Start_Time =
      0, 0,
      60, 30,
      120, 60,
      180, 90,
      240, 120,
      _, 150,
      _, 180,
      _, 210,
      _, 240,
      _, 270 ;

     Raw_Data_Stop_Time =
      60, 30,
      120, 60,
      180, 90,
      240, 120,
      300, 150,
      _, 180,
      _, 210,
      _, 240,
      _, 270,
      _, 300 ;

     Raw_Bck_Start_Time =
      0, 0,
      60, 30,
      120, 60,
      _, 90,
      _, 120,
      _, 150;

     Raw_Bck_Stop_Time =
      60, 30,
      120, 60,
      180, 90,
      _, 120,
      _, 150,
      _, 180 ;

     Laser_Shots =
      1500, 3000, 3000, 3000,
      1500, 3000, 3000, 3000,
      1500, 3000, 3000, 3000,
      1500, 3000, 3000, 3000,
      1500, 3000, 3000, 3000,
      1500, _, _, _,
      1500, _, _, _,
      1500, _, _, _,
      1500, _, _, _,
      1500, _, _, _ ;

     Raw_Lidar_Data = ...

     Background_Profile = ...

This example file contains the minimum collection of mandatory information that has to be found within the Raw Lidar Data input file. If it is really necessary, the user can decide to add to these mandatory parameters any number of additional parameters considered in the previous example.

Finally, suppose we want to make the following changes with respect to the previous example:

1. use a sounding file for molecular density calculation instead of “US Standar Atmosphere 1976”
2. supply a lidar ratio profile to use in elastic backscatter retrieval instead of a fixed value
3. provide a overlap function for overlap correction

In this case we have to generate the following NetCDF additional files:

rs_20090130cc00.nc
  The name of Sounding Data file has to be computed as follows: `"rs_"``+``Measurement_ID` The structure of this file is summarized in table tab:sounding.
ov_20090130cc00.nc
  The name of Overlap file has to be computed as follows: `"ov_"``+``Measurement_ID` The structure of this file is summarized in table tab:overlap.
lr_20090130cc00.nc
  The name of Lidar Ratio file has to be computed as follows: `"lr_"``+``Measurement_ID` The structure of this file is summarized in table tab:lr.

Moreover we need to apply the following changes to the Raw Lidar Data input file:

1. Change the value of the variable `Molecular_Calc` as follows:

       Molecular_Calc = 1 ;

   Of course the variables `Pressure_at_Lidar_Station` and `Temperature_at_Lidar_Station` are not necessary anymore.

2. Change the values of the array `LR_Input` as follows:

       LR_Input = 0,_,_,_ ;

3. Add the global attribute `Sounding_File_Name`

       Sounding_File_Name = "rs_20090130cc00.nc" ;

5. Add the global attribute `LR_File_Name`

       LR_File_Name = "lr_20090130cc00.nc" ;

6. Add the global attribute `Overlap_File_Name`

       Overlap_File_Name = "ov_20090130cc00.nc" ;

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