Direct multiangle solution for poorly stratified atmospheres

Abstract

The direct multiangle solution is considered, which allows improving the scanning lidar-data-inversion accuracy when the requirement of the horizontally stratified atmosphere is poorly met. The signal measured at zenith or close to zenith is used as a core source for extracting optical characteristics of the atmospheric aerosol loading. The multiangle signals are used as auxiliary data to extract the vertical transmittance profile from the zenith signal. Details of the retrieval methodology are considered that eliminate, or at least soften, some specific ambiguities in the multiangle measurements in horizontally heterogeneous atmospheres. Simulated and experimental elastic lidar data are presented that illustrate the essentials of the data-processing technique. Finally, the prospects of the utilization of high-spectral-resolution lidar in the multiangle mode are discussed.

Citation

Kovalev, Vladimir; Wold, Cyle; Petkov, Alexander; Hao, Wei Min. 2012. Direct multiangle solution for poorly stratified atmospheres. Applied Optics. 51(25): 6139-6146.