First results of cirrus clouds properties by means of a pollyxt raman lidar at two measurement sites

Geometrical and optical characteristics of cirrus clouds using Raman lidar PollyXT measurements at different locations are presented. The PollyXT has been participated in two long-term experimental campaigns, one close to New Delhi in India and one at Elandsfontein in South Africa, providing continuous measurements and covering a wide range of cloud types. First results of cirrus cloud properties at different latitudes, as well as their temporal distributions are presented in this study. An automatic cirrus clouds detection algorithm is applied based on the wavelet covariance transform. The measurements at New Delhi performed from March 2008 to February 2009, while at Elandsfontein measurements were performed from December 2009 to January 2011.