Evaluation of Turbulent Energy Dissipation Rate Estimation from Doppler Lidar: Impact of Techniques and Scanning Strategies

The turbulent energy dissipation rate (EDR) is a quantitative measure of turbulence intensity, and it is widely used across various fields. Accurate estimation of EDR using Doppler lidar depends on the choice of estimation technique and scanning strategy. Therefore, a comparison of the techniques is still required to achieve an accurate estimation. However, the effect of the choice on estimation accuracy remains uncertain. This study systematically evaluates the accuracy of EDR estimation techniques by utilizing two distinct scanning strategies: a vertically pointing scan (EDRVP) and a Plan Position Indicator scan (EDRVAD). We assess four different EDRVP estimation techniques and assess the accuracy of EDRVAD for each elevation angle by comparing it with the measurements from sonic anemometers on a 300 m tall meteorological tower. EDRVAD shows a positive correlation coefficient exceeding 0.5 with the sonic anemometers. EDRVAD demonstrates dependency on the elevation angle, with lower angles resulting in higher EDR values. Conversely, all of the EDRVP techniques exhibit high agreement, with correlation coefficients above 0.9. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the accuracy of each technique, highlighting their respective characteristics and practical considerations.