an OTT HydroMet brandLufft Ceilometer Series

CHM 15k and CHM 8k

Lufft Ceilometers

CHM Series
A ceilometer is a device which uses a laser or other

The CHM 8k and the CHM 15k are equipped with anlight source to determine the height of a cloud

integrated controller offering a fully embedded

ceiling or cloud base. Ceilometers can also be used

real-time calculation of all target parameters.

to measure the aerosol concentration within theAdditionally, Lufft offers intuitive user web interfaces

atmosphere. A variant of atmospheric lidars (lightfor data monitoring. The CHM 8k is the newdetection and ranging), ceilometers send short laser

ceilometer from Lufft and has a measuring range

pulses into the atmosphere and measure thefrom 0 m to 10 km (0 to 32,808 ft) and a cloudbackscattering of molecules and aerosols. From thedetection range from 5 m to 8 km (16 to 26,246 ft).

backscatter signal, a ceilometer determines cloud

The tried-and-tested Lufft CHM 15k has a measuringbases and aerosol layer heights.

range of 15 km (49,212 ft).

Using the single-wavelength, backscatter Lidar

The new Lufft CHM 8k ceilometer empowers

technology, Lufft ceilometers accurately deliver cloud

meteorologists at weather services and airports tobase heights, cloud penetration depths, and aerosol

make the right decisions with highest confidence andlayer heights via boundary layers, vertical visibility,minimal maintenance. Especially in the critical heightand sky condition indexes.

below 1 km, the Lufft CHM 8k detects cloud bases inany place and season with outstanding precision andThe Lufft CHM Ceilometers have a double-walled

reliability. Internal data storage and a battery backup

housing and combined with an integrated fan andenable unmatched sensor uptime and data availability

automatic heating system provide reliable protection

even at the harshest conditions.

against misting, precipitation, freezing, andoverheating. Reliable and accurate results 24 hours
a day are ensured by the use of long-life laser
sources, filters with narrow bandwidth, and highly
sensitive photo-detectors.

Measurement Examples
Cirrus Clouds

The graphical view of backscatter activity shows a cirrus cloud structure over

the course of the day between 6 and 12 km and an aerosol layer structure up
to 2 km altitude. The related height profile (black line at 21:00 UTC) is shownat the right side of the diagram.

  Rain

This graphic shows a rain situation. A certain drop in cloud height and an


increase in cloud mass and volume can easily be perceived in the graphicalestimate the intensity of a likely precipitation event.





right sub-area of the graphical view. One can identify precipitation and

view by evaluation of the height profile (black line at 18:30 UTC) shown in the  Planetary Boundary Layer 

lowest part of the atmosphere. It is affected by heat, wind, moisture or  

The planetary boundary layer (PBL) or atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is the 





 



momentum transfer from the ground. Within the PBL, the mixed layer (MXL)
height is of interest, because all particles and gases arising from the Earthsurface are first concentrated and mixed within it. Therefore, the ceilometer‘smeasurement of the aerosol layer height gives valuable information about theparticle concentration, e.g. PM2.5 fine dust. The diagram to the left shows anaerosol profile for a typical mixing layer as it develops over the course of the day.

Product Description &Technical Data
The main difference between the two Lufft ceilometers is the laser source, the detection method(analog versus photon counting method) and the sensivity at ground level. The field of view of thereceiver is larger on the Lufft CHM 8k cloud height sensor.

Dimensions

550

CHM 8k• Confident detection of low clouds with False Alarm Rateof <0.2% even at extreme conditions• Application focus on aviation andenvironmental services• Maximum sensor uptime and data availability thanks
to integrated data storage and a robust battery
backup (-40deg to 60deg)• Low-maintenance through self-monitoring function• Data output in NetCDF format available• Various interfaces (LAN, serial)• Safe and certified operation in compliance withUL50e (North America), TÜV (Europe), ICAO GRF

500

CHM 15k• Cloud Height Detection up to 15 km / 50,000 ft• Application focus on meteorological andenvironmental services• Sophisticated housing, ventilation and heating
withstands even extreme conditions• Based on micro chip laser• Data output in NetCDF format available• Multiple interfaces (LAN, serial)

500

1550

500

14500

Fields of Application• Weather services• ASOS systems, aviation market• EPA/ Universities: Environmental
studies of fine dust, mixing layer• Renewable energy market- solar energy (cloud cover)- wind energy (cloud base)Benefits• Reliable cloud monitoring under all weatherconditions through low false alarm rateand high probability of detection• Rugged housing• Service-friendly operation• Easy installation• Self-diagnostics• High accuracy and simultaneous
measurement of several parameters• In-field performance test with dedicated
Cloud Height Simulator device• Data transparancy thanks to open andcomprehensive netCDF data format

Technical Specifications
Measuring principle
Measuring parameter
Measuring range
Cloud detection range
Time resolution
Range resolution
Quality and auxiliary values

Quantities given in layers
Accuracy (measured on hardtarget in 10 km distance)
Additional quantities
Standard interfaces
Optional interfaces
Power supply
Power consumption
UPS functionality (opt.)
Light source
Wavelength
Laser protection classProtection level housing
General safety

Lufft CHM 8k
Lufft CHM 15k
Lidar (optical, time of flight)
Lidar (optical, time of flight)
Aerosol backscatter profile ßatt(r)Aerosol backscatter profile ßatt(r)0 m … 10,000 m (0 ft … 32,808 ft)
0 m ... 15,000 m (0 ft ... 49,212 ft)
5 m … 8,000 m (16 ft … 26,246 ft)
10 m ... 15,000 m (33 ft ... 49,212 ft)
2 … 600 s
2 … 600 s
5 m (16 ft)
5 m (16 ft)External and internal temperature,
External and internal temperature,internal voltages, internal relative humidity,
status values for window, laser and receiver
improved status values for window, laser and receiver
Cloud base height, cloud penetration depth, aerosol layer height and measured uncertainties±5 m (±16 ft)±5 m (±16 ft)

Cloud cover, vertical visibility, Sky Condition Index
Cloud cover, vertical visibility, Sky Condition Index
RS485 (ASCII communication);
RS485 (ASCII communication);
LAN (web interface, (S-)FTP, NetTools)
LAN (web interface, (S-)FTP, NetTools)
DSL modem
DSL modem230 VAC or 115 VAC, ±10 %230 VAC or 115 VAC, ±10 %150 W @115/230 VAC (without housing heater)
450 W @115 / 230 VAC (without housing heater)
450 W (with case heater)
800 W (with case heater)
Internal backup battery for electronics >1 h across full ambient temperature range

EMC
Temperature range
Operational altitude
Relative humidity
WindDimensions
WeightAccessories

Laser diodeNd:YAG solid-state laser
905 nm1064 nm
1M, IEC 60825-1
1M, IEC 60825-1
IEC 60529:IP66
IEC 60529:IP66
EC 61010-1 (TÜV Rheinland certified), UL 61010-1 (TÜV SÜD certified),
AS 61010.1 (Australia and New Zealand), CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 61010-1 (TÜV SÜD certified)
CE (EU), FCC Part 15 Class B (US), IC (CN)-40 ... +60 °C
up to 5000 m
0 ... 100 %60 m/s500 x 500 x 1550 mm
70 kg (130 kg incl. packaging)
CHM Cloud Height Simulator
CHM Data Viewer - Software
Adapter Bracket

CE (EU), FCC Part 15 Class B (US), IC (CN)-40 ... +50 °C
up to 5000 m
0 ... 100 %60 m/s500 x 500 x 1550 mm
70 kg (130 kg incl. packaging)
CHM Cloud Height Simulator
CHM Data Viewer - Software
Adapter BracketAccessories

CHM Cloud Height Simulator
Simulates different cloud heights to checkthe proper functioning of the device.
Generates light pulses that correspond towell-defined clouds. Enables independent
in-field quality check within 15 minutes.

CHM Data Viewer – Software
Special software developed by Lufft isavailable to visualize the data that ismeasured by the CHM.

Adapter Bracket
Tilts the device at an angle (5° or 15° available).
Strongly recommended for installations below
35° latitude.

Application

AVIATIONIn Ukraine, thanks to Lufft partner Dataspektr, the state aviationadministration certified that the Lufft ceilometers comply with theICAO standards.

One important use of the ceilometer is to determine cloud ceilings
at airports. CHM 8k can identify up to 9 cloud layers and is very
sensitive even at ground level.

The CHM series is part of the Lufft sensor range for Airport Weather
Observation Systems (AWOS) and Runway Ice Detection Systems (IDS).
Further sensors in this range:
Mobile Runway Sensor MARWIS

Lufft ARS31 Embedded Runway Sensors

Mobile Runway Condition Assessment

MARWIS is the first road and runway

The embedded active road weather sensor

Powerful combination of Lufft runway

weather sensor detecting road conditions,

ARS31 detects freezing temperatures

sensors and ViewMondo software to comply

temperatures, friction, and otherindependently from de-icing materials

with ICAO's Global Reporting Format.

parameters – mobile and in real-timeand is easy to maintain due to its twofrom driving vehicles.

parted housing.

Application

RESEARCH

Dutch Weather Service KNMI
A network of more than 40 Lufft ceilometers supports the Dutch
Weather Service for precise and real-time monitoring of all
aerosol and clouds activities over the Netherlands itself as well as
on various offshore locations in the North Sea.

German Weather Service DWD
Measurement site of the DWD in Lindenberg, Germany, 2022:
Evaluation of Lufft CHM 8k against CHM 15k and various
meteorological observation systems located at the same site.
In total, OTT HydroMet provided the DWD with more than 200
CHM 15k and nearly 100 CHM 8k.

MeteoSwiss Payerne
CHM 15k mounted with a tilt of 45° to measure aerosols in the air.
It masters the challenge to measure in the Alps over the valley.
Thanks to the special installation, the application has delivered
stunning results.

OTT HydroMet Fellbach GmbH
Gutenbergstraße 2070736 Fellbach
T: +49 711 51822-0
met-info@otthydromet.com
www.lufft.com
www.otthydromet.com

an OTT HydroMet brand

ME-LU-WT-br_Lufft_Ceilometer_Series-EN_A4_230208

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