Profiling Temperature, Pressure, and Aerosol Properties Using a High Spectral Resolution Lidar Employing Atomic Blocking Filters

Abstract

A two-channel ground-based high spectra resolution Rayleigh-Mie lidar (553.7 nm) and its operation is described. Inversion of data collected with this unique lidar system yields vertical profiles of atmospheric parameters including temperature, potential temperature, pressure and density, as well as aerosol parameters including backscatter ratio, extinction ratio, aerosol volume extinction cross section, and backscatter phase function. The results of the lidar temperature profiles (within 10 K) are compared with those measured by a nearby balloonsonde. Although present accuracies are not acceptable for routine measurements, the concept has been demonstrated. Use of a more stable filter will significantly improve the accuracy of the temperature measurements. This technique makes accessible a fairly complete set of simultaneous measurements of thermodynamic and aerosol properties of the atmosphere.