Observational study of cloud base height and its frequency over a tropical station,Thiruvananthapuram, using a ceilometer

This study aims to investigate the characteristic features of cloud base height (CBH) over Thiruvananthapuram during different seasons. CBH data were used for the present work derived from the Vaisala Laser Ceilometer, CL31 (VLC) installed at the campus of the Centre for Earth Science Studies, Akkulam (8.29° N, 76.59° E, 15 m above sea level). The VLC was in operation from the second week of July 2006 onwards. From the study, we found that CBH shows distinct diurnal and seasonal variations during all the seasons (except on rainy days). The diurnal variation for low-level clouds was different from that for the mid-level clouds. A cloud-free layer is evident in the region between 2.5 and 4 km. This cloud-free zone is more prominent during the southwest monsoon period compared to other seasons. Moreover, the monthly variations of cloud frequency and CBH were also described in addition to the different periodicities in cloud frequency. The periodicities found in the cloud frequency were 8 days and 30 days and these are significant at the 5% level. Thermodynamic parameters from the radiosonde were also related to the cloud frequency for various seasons and they were in good agreement.