A method of background noise reduction in lidar data

Abstract

This paper applies a theoretical approach to the calculation of background noise levels during the analysis of lidar (light detection and ranging) data. We develop a method for the identification of background noise concealed within lidar signals under clear atmospheric or homogeneous aerosol layer conditions and derive an equation for the calculation of these noise levels from a theoretical consideration of the lidar equation. An increasing range-corrected signal indicates that a large amount of background noise exist in the return signal. We calculate the level of background noise by selecting three equidistant points in the return signal from the homogeneous layer and inputting the range and intensity of these points into the derived equation. Background noise calculations using actual lidar signals were in good agreement with calculations based on a simulated lidar signal. The background noise equation was verified using both observational lidar data and a simulated signal, indicating that it provides a reasonable measure of background noise levels in lidar data.