Inversion of scattering lidar data with constant and variable lidar ratio

Abstract

The iterative (with constant "lidar ratio") and the general recursive (with variable "lidar ratio") algorithms have been used to backscattering lidar data. The data have been collected in the Lidar Center in Thessalonica, Greece. The vertical profiles of backscatter coefficient retrieved with these two algorithms differ slightly. The vertical profile of "lidar ratio" for the laser wavelength 532 nm, depending on the day or time of the day, changes its values but doesn't reveal any essential structure. The wavelength 355 nm seems to be more "sensitive" and shows some structure for "lidar ratio". Most probably these structures are due to the presence of different aerosol layers. From vertical backscatter coefficients, both 355 nm and 532 nm, at least, two aerosol layers can be differentiated.