Cloud Height Instruments
Bristol Industrial & Research Associates Ltd (Biral)
Ceilometers are stand-alone instruments designed to measure cloud and aerosol height profiles using a laser based LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) technique. The light emitting component is a low power diode laser with the output power limited to an eye-safe level. They determine cloud base heights, penetration depths, mixing layer height and vertical visibilities. Within their operating range they reliably detect multiple cloud layers and cirrus clouds.