Abstract
The lidar group in Potenza has almost 10 years' experience in the field of lidar research. Important results have been accomplished both in aerosol and water vapour research. The lidar system in Potenza has acquired different confi gurations during the years, always preserving the capability to accomplish two wavelength aerosol and water vapour Raman measurements. An important up-grade was the introduction of a water vapour DIAL channel in 1997. The lidar system in Potenza has been involved in several aerosol and water vapour measurement campaigns: stratospheric aerosol measurement campaign (1994-1995); LITE correlative measurement campaign (September 1994); Water Vapour Intensive Observation Period (January-February 1997); EARLINET project (since February 2000). A second lidar system, primarily dedicated to water vapour Raman measurements, is under development and starting January 2002 will go through an intensive observation period dedicated to the validation of sensors on-board ENVISAT (principally GOMOS, MIPAS and SCIAMACHY). This paper summarises some of the major results accomplished, as well as expected results from the forthcoming campaigns.
Highlights
Atmospheric water vapour and aerosols play a crucial role in the Earth climate, being a key element in the global radiation budget, in atmospheric circulation, as well as in the microphysical processes leading to cloud formation and development
The role of atmospheric water vapour and aerosols in the climate system is only partially understood at present, as a result of their highly variable time and space distribution on the global scale
The lidar system based both on the Raman and DIAL techniques can provide accurate measurements of atmospheric water vapour, as well as aerosols, with high space and time resolution
Summary
Atmospheric water vapour and aerosols play a crucial role in the Earth climate, being a key element in the global radiation budget, in atmospheric circulation, as well as in the microphysical processes leading to cloud formation and development. The role of atmospheric water vapour and aerosols in the climate system is only partially understood at present, as a result of their highly variable time and space distribution on the global scale. In spite of the recent improvements in their performances, passive remote sensors from space provide global coverage of aerosol and H2O distribution with accuracy and a vertical resolution still insufficient for climate studies, primarily in the middle and upper troposphere. The lidar system based both on the Raman and DIAL techniques can provide accurate measurements of atmospheric water vapour, as well as aerosols, with high space and time resolution. The EARLINET project, mentioned in the abstract, is not included in the present work since a specific paper within this special issue is devoted to this effort
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