PROFILING TEMPERATURE, PRESSURE, AND AEROSOL PROPERTIES USING A HIGH-SPECTRAL-RESOLUTION LIDAR EMPLOYING ATOMIC BLOCKING FILTERS

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