SPALINET: Spanish Lidar Network

The information corresponding to the state of the atmosphere is one of the key points of pollutant dispersion models. The characterisation of the atmosphere on both a horizontal and vertical scale is an important added value for the weather prediction models. This information can be obtained by means of lidar measurements.

The Spanish Lidar Network (SPALINET), created on 1 January, 2007 by means of the Complementary Actions from the Spanish Ministry of Sciences and Innovation ref. CGL2006-26149-E/CLI and CGL2007-28871-E/CLI, aims to extend and reinforce the actions of the European network EARLINET (European Aerosol Research Lidar Network to Establish an Aerosol Climatology) initiated by means of the project “A European Aerosol Research Lidar Network to Establish an Aerosol Climatology: EARLINET”, contract nº EVR1-CT-1999-40003 of the Fifth Framework Programme, continued by means of a voluntary association of research institutions and currently supported, in regard to exchange of knowledge, by the Co-ordination Action “European Aerosol Research Lidar Network: Advanced Sustainable Observation System: EARLINET-ASOS”, contract nº 025991 (RICA) EARLINET-ASOS. The goal of the working plan for the first three years is the formation of a nucleus for the development of the Spanish and Portuguese lidar community and to stimulate participation in it in order to improve the spatial coverage of vertical measurements of aerosols in Spanish and Portuguese territory.

Geographical distribution of lidars in Spanish and Portuguese territory. In green the transportable lidars and in red the fixed lidars. The lidars represented by squares belong to EARLINET.