Backscattering and reflection of acoustic waves in the stable atmospheric boundary layer

Among different applications of sodars in studies of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL), the remote sensing of the temperature structure parameter CT2 and the closely associated structure parameter of refraction index Cn2 occupies an important place. These parameters are calculated from sodar return signal with the help of the theory of Bragg volumetric scattering of sound by small-scale turbulent irregularities of temperature. According to the Kolmogorov-Oboukhov conception, the irregularities are assumed to be locally homogeneous and isotropic. The theory was confirmed by experiments and universally recognized as a classical one. However, detailed comparisons are still being made between CT2 values derived from sodar data and from aircraft and meteorological-tower measurements. The results of such comparisons performed by different researchers under different conditions contradict to each other. In this paper, the results of comparisons between remote and in situ measurements of CT2 in the ABL are briefly reviewed. Some examples of a systematic overestimation of CT2 calculated from sodar data obtained under stable stratification of the ABL are given. Technical and physical causes of these discrepancies are discussed. The following factors are considered as possible physical factors: contribution of a partial (Fresnel) reflection of sound from layers with a sharp temperature jump, anisotropy of small-scale turbulence, intermittency, and contribution of quasi-wave air-density inhomogeneities. It is shown that these factors can explain some short-lived increase of the sodar return signal, but not a systematic overestimation of CT2. The role of sound-beam refraction (which regularly occurs in the stable ABL due to strong air-temperature and wind-speed gradients) is discussed. Due to a refraction turn of sodar beam, the angle of scattering changes, and scattering by turbulent wind-speed irregularities could permanently contribute to return signal of a monostatic sodar