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The calibration method of airborne atmospheric detection lidar is a subject worthy of study. A forward iterative calibration method for Klett forward integral equation is presented in this paper. The results of the preliminary inversion show that after 2 ∼ 3 times forward integration iterations, the airborne lidar data are accurately calibrated and that the accurate aerosol extinction coefficient profile can be obtained. By comparison with other two calibration methods, the Klett iterative calibration method, with smaller errors in calibration, is superior to the slope method and the calibration method by means of aerosol-free layer in stable accuracy.

Lidar, as an active remote sensing detection instrument, has become a powerful tool for atmospheric aerosol detection research. The extinction coefficient could be inverted by the lidar equation. However, the traditional method required many assumptions and complicated calculations when inverting the aerosol extinction coefficient, which greatly limited the accuracy and efficiency of the inversion. In this article, a method for predicting the aerosol extinction coefficient using Elman neural network was proposed. The neural network model was continuously trained to directly predict the aerosol extinction coefficient from the lidar echo signal, which effectively improved the aerosol extinction of the coefficient inversion efficiency. The experimental results show that the method with high prediction accuracy and the prediction effect was improved. The wide application prospect and practical value were possessed by the method and it provided a new idea for the inversion of extinction coefficient.

The authors developed a three-dimensional variational (3-DVAR) aerosol extinction coefficient (AEC) and aerosol mass concentration (AMC) data assimilation (DA) system for aerosol variables in the Weather Research and Forecasting–Chemistry (WRF–Chem) model with the WRF–Chem using the Model for Simulating Aerosol Interactions and Chemistry (MOSAIC) scheme. They establish an AEC observation operator and its corresponding adjoint based on the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) equation and investigate the use of lidar AEC and surface AMC DA to forecast mass concentration (MC) profiles of PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 µm) across China. Two sets of data were assimilated: AEC profiles captured by five conventional Mie scattering lidars (positioned in Beijing, Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan, Xuzhou, and Wuhu) and PM2.5 and PM10 MC data obtained from over 1500 ground environmental monitoring stations across China. Three DA experiments (i.e., a PM2.5 (PM10) DA experiment, a lidar AEC DA experiment, and a simultaneous PM2.5 (PM10) and lidar AEC DA experiment) with a 12 h assimilation period and a 24 h forecast period were conducted. The PM2.5 (PM10) DA reduced the root mean square error (RMSE) of the surface PM2.5 MC in the initial field of the model by 38.6 µg m−3 (64.8 %). When lidar AEC data were assimilated, this reduction was 10.5 µg m−3 (17.6 %), and a 38.4 µg m−3 (64.4 %) reduction occurred when the two data sets were assimilated simultaneously, although only five lidars were available within the simulation region (approximately 2.33 million km2 in size). The RMSEs of the forecasted surface PM2.5 MC 24 h after the DA period in the three DA experiments were reduced by 6.1 µg m−3 (11.8 %), 1.5 µg m−3 (2.9 %), and 6.5 µg m−3 (12.6 %), respectively, indicating that the assimilation and hence the optimization of the initial field have a positive effect on the PM2.5 MC forecast performance over a period of 24 h after the DA period.

An iterative method, based on a derived inverse relationship between atmospheric backscatter coefficient and aerosol lidar ratio, is proposed to invert the lidar ratio profile and aerosol extinction coefficient. The feasibility of this method is investigated theoretically and experimentally. Simulation results show the inversion accuracy of aerosol optical properties for iterative method can be improved in the near-surface aerosol layer and the optical thick layer. Experimentally, as a result of the reduced insufficiency error and incoherence error, the aerosol optical properties with higher accuracy can be obtained in the near-surface region and the region of numerical derivative distortion. In addition, the particle component can be distinguished roughly based on this improved lidar ratio profile.

Two intense winter aerosol pollution events, which took place in winter 2016–2017 in Paris, were monitored using a ground-based N2-Raman lidar, in the framework of WASLIP (Winter Aerosol Survey by Lidar In Paris), a dedicated field campaign that was carried out in this area from 1 November 2016 to 31 January 2017. The data analysis uses the synergy between ground-based and spaceborne lidar observations and data from the air quality monitoring network Airparif. The first severe aerosol pollution event began on 30 November 2016 and ended on 2 December, concerning a circular area of ∼250 km in diameter around Paris. The maximum PM10 was 121±63 µg m−3 (regional spatial average ± SD) for the Airparif ground-based PM monitoring stations, and the aerosol extinction coefficient (AEC) ranged from 0.2 to 1 km−1. The second event took place from 20 to 23 January which covered all of the northwestern Europe, with maxima of PM10 around 156±33 µg m−3 and AEC between 0.6 and 1 km−1, within the winter atmospheric boundary layer. Although these two major aerosol pollution events did not occur under identical anticyclonic weather conditions, they share very low planetary boundary layer (PBL) heights, down to 300 m above ground level. Moreover, they are associated with significantly different aerosol lidar ratios: 72±15 and 56±15 sr, respectively in December and January. Such results are consistent with available spaceborne lidar data, 70±25 sr from CALIOP (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations), and values found in the literature. During these two events, the continuous temporal evolution of the aerosol extinction coefficient allows us to investigate the representativeness of optical parameters found in the planetary boundary layer to assess surface aerosol concentration. No one-to-one relationship between the aerosol optical thickness (AOT) and PM2.5 values stands out within our study. In contrast, the maximum aerosol extinction coefficient found within the planetary boundary layer correlates well with PM2.5 at the ground (R2∼0.75, specific extinction cross section of 9.4 m2 g−1) for these polluted events. Thus this lidar-derived aerosol extinction coefficient is identified as a consistent variable to monitor the pollution during winter events.

In this study, we compared the aerosol profiles derived from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) over China with those simulated by the Global 3-D Atmospheric Chemical Transport model (GEOS-Chem) for the period of 2007–2014. Multiple steps were implemented in the data analysis. First, we validated CALIPSO and GEOS-Chem aerosol optical depth (AOD) using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) products, both CALIPSO and GEOS-Chem AOD were found to 30%∼50% underestimations in eastern China and 60%∼80% underestimations in western China. Second, MODIS AOD was introduced to normalize the aerosol extinction coefficient (AEC) of both CALIPSO and GEOS-Chem in each 1-km layer below 10 km to achieve a uniform comparison. Linear regression analysis between the normalized CALIPSO and GEOS-Chem AECs yielded better correlation coefficients and lower mean relative differences than the direct comparisons from the original data. Finally, we investigated the vertical distributions of aerosol components over the North, South, Northwest and Tibet regions of China. Our findings are summarized based on different aerosol components as the following. Dust aerosols: The percentages of CALIPSO polluted dust to total dust in the North and South regions (50%∼68% in different seasons) are higher than those in the Northwest and Tibet regions (25%∼45%). Thus, the polluted dust classification significantly affects our comparisons in the North and South. For CALIPSO pure dust, its concentrations in the higher layers are larger than those of GEOS-Chem. Continental/sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium (SNA) aerosols: The percentages of CALIPSO continental aerosols to total aerosols are almost negligible throughout the four regions (

The vertical distribution of the aerosol extinction coefficient serves as a basis for evaluating aerosol radiative forcing and air quality modeling. In this study, MODIS AOD data and ground-based lidar extinction coefficients were employed to verify 6 years (2009–2014) aerosol extinction data obtained via CALIOP for Southeast China. The objective was mainly to provide the parameterization scheme of annual and seasonal aerosol extinction profiles. The results showed that the horizontal and vertical distributions of CALIOP extinction data were highly accurate in Southeast China. The annual average AOD below 2 km accounted for 64% of the total layer, with larger proportions observed in winter (80%) and autumn (80%) and lower proportions observed in summer (70%) and spring (59%). The AOD was maximum in the spring (0.58), followed by the autumn and winter (0.44), and reached a minimum in the summer (0.40). The near-surface extinction coefficient increased from summer, spring, autumn and winter, in that order. The Elterman profile is obviously lower than the profiles observed by CALIOP in Southeast China. The annual average and seasonal aerosol profiles showed an exponential distribution, and could be divided into two sections. Two sections exponential fitting was used in the parameterization scheme. In the first section, the aerosol scale height reached 2200 m with a maximum (3,500 m) in summer and a minimum (1,230 m) in winter, which meant that the aerosol extinction decrease with height slower in summer, but more rapidly in winter. In second section, the aerosol scale height was maximum in spring, which meant that the higher aerosol diffused in spring.

Temporal variability in the vertical distribution of aerosol optical thickness (AOT) derived from the 0.532 µm aerosol extinction coefficient is described using Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) observations over 8.5 years (June 2006 to December 2014). Temporal variability of CALIOP column-integrated AOT is largely consistent with total column AOT trends from several passive satellite sensors, such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer, and the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor. Globally, a 0.0002 AOT per year positive trend in deseasonalized CALIOP total column AOT for daytime conditions is attributed to corresponding changes in near-surface (i.e., 0.0–0.5 km or 0.5–1.0 km above ground level (agl)) aerosol particle loading, while a −0.0006 AOT per year trend during nighttime is attributed to elevated (i.e., 1.0–2.0 km or >2.0 km agl) aerosols. Regionally, increasing daytime CALIOP AOTs are found over Southern Africa and India, mostly due to changes in aerosol loading at the 1.0–2.0 km and 0.0–0.5 km agl layers, respectively. Decreasing daytime CALIOP AOTs are observed over Northern Africa, Eastern U.S., and South America (due mostly to elevated aerosol loading), while the negative CALIOP AOT trends found over Eastern China, Europe, and Western U.S. are due mostly to aerosol layers nearer the surface. To our knowledge, this study is the first to provide both a globally comprehensive estimation of the temporal variation in aerosol vertical distribution and an insight into passive sensor column AOT trends in the vertical domain.

Fine particles (PM2.5) affect human life and activities directly; the detection of PM2.5 mass concentration profile is very essential due to its practical and scientific significance (such as the quantification of air quality and its variability as well as the assessment of improving air quality forecast). But so far, it has been difficult to detect PM2.5 mass concentration profile. The proposed methodology to study the relationship between aerosol extinction coefficient and PM2.5 mass concentration is described, which indicates that the PM2.5 mass concentration profile could be retrieved by combining a charge-coupled device (CCD) side-scatter lidar with a PM2.5 sampling detector. When the relative humidity is less than 70 %, PM2.5, mass concentration is proportional to the aerosol extinction coefficient, and then the specific coefficient can be calculated. Through this specific coefficient, aerosol extinction profile is converted to PM2.5 mass concentration profile. Three cases of clean night (on 21 September 2014), pollutant night (on 17 March 2014), and heavy pollutant night (on 13 February 2015) are studied. The characteristics of PM2.5 mass concentration profile at the near-ground level during the cases of these 3 nights in the western suburb of Hefei city were discussed. The PM2.5 air pollutant concentration is comparatively large close to the surface and varies with time and altitude. The experiment results show that the CCD side-scatter lidar combined with a PM2.5 detector is an effective and new method to explore pollutant mass concentration profile at the near-ground level.

In this study, a LIDAR was used to outline characteristic zones in Sofia City of increased concentration of aerosol pollutants and to determine the related aerosol extinction coefficient. In-situ probing was conducted as well of the corresponding aerosol ensembles, which allowed us to estimate gravimetrically the aerosol extinction-to-mass concentration calibration constant. Samples of aerosol scatterers were also visualized by electron microscopy. The results obtained provided reasonable values of the calibration constant. The images obtained revealed micro-particles seeming to be of mineral-dust, soot or even microbe type. A further chemical and microbiological analysis of the aerosol particles is forthcoming.

In past decades, lidar techniques have become main tools for atmospheric remote sensing. However, traditional pulsed lidar systems are relatively expensive and require considerable maintenance. These shortcomings may be overcome by the development of a blue band Scheimpflug lidar system in Dalian, Northern China. Atmospheric remote measurements were carried out for 10 days in an urban area to validate the feasibility and performance of a 450-nm Scheimpflug lidar system. A 24-h continuous measurement was achieved in winter on a near horizontal path with an elevation angle of about 6.4&deg, The aerosol extinction coefficient retrieved by the Fernald-inversion algorithm shows good agreement with the variation of PM10/PM2.5 concentrations recorded by a national pollution monitoring station. The experimental result reveals that the linear ratio between the aerosol extinction coefficient and the PM10 concentration under high relative humidity (75&ndash, 90%) is about two-times that in low relative humidity (&le, 75%) when the PM10 concentrations are less than 100 &micro, g/m3.

Wuhan is a rapidly developing large city in central China. To analyze the aerosol characteristics over Wuhan, the optical properties of the nocturnal aerosol layers in the lower troposphere were observed using a ground-based LIDAR(Light Detection And Ranging) located in the Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing (LIESMARS) from Wuhan University, China (114°21′E, 30°32′N) in January 2013–January 2015. The vertical distribution and temporal variation of tropospheric aerosols over Wuhan were summarized. The atmospheric boundary layer height (ABLH) was mainly at an altitude of 1.5–2 km (~33.1% probability), with an annual average of 1.66 km. The ABLH was higher in spring–summer (~2 km) and lower in autumn–winter (~1.2 km). The aerosol optical depth (AOD) was higher in spring–autumn than in summer–winter. The highest AOD was about 0.79 in October and the lowest was about 0.08 in January. The annual average was about 0.3. To study the relationship between the AOD and the particulate matter ≤2.5 µm in the aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) in the lower troposphere, a typical haze event from 9–14 October 2014 was investigated. The results showed a correlation coefficient of 0.5165 between these two variables.

The MACC reanalysis dust product is evaluated over Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East using the EARLINET-optimized CALIOP/CALIPSO pure dust satellite-based product LIVAS (2007–2012). MACC dust optical depth at 550 nm (DOD550) data are compared against LIVAS DOD532 observations. As only natural aerosol (dust and sea salt) profiles are available in MACC, here we focus on layers above 1 km a.s.l. to diminish the influence of sea salt particles that typically reside at low heights. So, MACC natural aerosol extinction coefficient profiles at 550 nm are compared against dust extinction coefficient profiles at 532 nm from LIVAS, assuming that the MACC natural aerosol profile data can be similar to the dust profile data, especially over pure continental regions. It is shown that the reanalysis data are capable of capturing the major dust hot spots in the area as the MACC DOD550 patterns are close to the LIVAS DOD532 patterns throughout the year. MACC overestimates DOD for regions with low dust loadings and underestimates DOD for regions with high dust loadings where DOD exceeds ∼ 0.3. The mean bias between the MACC and LIVAS DOD is 0.025 (∼ 25 %) over the whole domain. Both MACC and LIVAS capture the summer and spring high dust loadings, especially over northern Africa and the Middle East, and exhibit similar monthly structures despite the biases. In this study, dust extinction coefficient patterns are reported at four layers (layer 1: 1200– 3000 m a.s.l., layer 2: 3000–4800 m a.s.l., layer 3: 4800– 6600 m a.s.l. and layer 4: 6600–8400 m a.s.l.). The MACC and LIVAS extinction coefficient patterns are similar over areas characterized by high dust loadings for the first three layers. Within layer 4, MACC overestimates extinction coefficients consistently throughout the year over the whole domain. MACC overestimates extinction coefficients compared to LIVAS over regions away from the major dust sources while over regions close to the dust sources (the Sahara and Middle East) it underestimates strongly only for heights below ∼ 3–5 km a.s.l. depending on the period of the year. In general, it is shown that dust loadings appear over remote regions and at heights up to 9 km a.s.l. in MACC contrary to LIVAS. This could be due to the model performance and parameterizations of emissions and other processes, due to the assimilation of satellite aerosol measurements over dark surfaces only or due to a possible enhancement of aerosols by the MACC assimilation system.

This paper presents the first, to our knowledge, lidar measurement of an industrial fire plume, which covered the north of the Paris area on 17th April 2015. The fire started in a textile warehouse and rapidly spread by emitting large quantities of aerosols into the low troposphere. A ground based N2-Raman lidar performed continuous measurements during this event. Vertical profiles of the aerosol extinction coefficient, depolarization and lidar ratio are derived. A Monte Carlo algorithm was used to assess the uncertainties on the optical parameters, and to evaluate lidar inversion methods.

A dual field of view lidar system with two independent receivers is described to realize the detection of atmospheric aerosols. A CCD camera is attached to a backscatter lidar as a receiver to complement the data in the near-field range affected by the incomplete overlap between the laser beam and the receiver field of view. The signal detected by the CCD camera is corrected and finally glued with the signal of the backscatter lidar to retrieve the aerosol extinction coefficient with Fernald algorithm. The aerosol extinction profile and visibilities measured by the dual field of lidar had been compared with the results measured by another general backscatter lidar and a surface aerosol instrument, respectively. The results suggested that the dual field of view lidar based on a CCD camera is feasible and reliable. It could obtain the data both in the near and in the far range simultaneously, improving the detection accuracy of the lidar system effectively.

An observation experiment of atmospheric aerosol based on Raman-Mie scattering lidar was introduced. Raman scattering lidar signals were smoothed by generalized regression neural network(GRNN) combined with wavelet denoising. Based on Raman-Mie scattering lidar, several groups of aerosol extinction coefficient profiles were retrieved by GRNN method. And the variation characteristics of aerosol extinction coefficient were analyzed by combining with meteorological data.

This paper considers the relationship between the accuracy of aerosol extinction inversion and the boundary value, and derives a theoretical high-accuracy aerosol extinction coefficient inversion. Aerosol extinction coefficient profiles depend on the boundary value. The relationship function of the differential extinction coefficient and differential boundary value is expressed by a maximum value. The smaller the differential boundary value, the smaller the differential extinction coefficient. The clean atmosphere layer is easily found from the lidar range-corrected signal, and the extinction coefficient of the clean atmosphere layer can be obtained using the slope method. By relating the extinction coefficient of the clean atmosphere layer to the extinction coefficient profiles at different boundary values, an accurate aerosol extinction coefficient profile can be obtained.

The aerosol extinction coefficient profiles and optical depth over Lanzhou in China were observed under no precipitation and dust free condition using the micropulse lidar CE370-2 from September 2005 to July 2008. The statistics of the variations of monthly average aerosol optical depth (AOD) and daily average AOD, frequency distribution of daily average AOD, and the seasonal variation of aerosol vertical distribution were analyzed based on the observation data. The results showed that the daily average AOD of Main Observatory and City Observatory was 87.8% and 78.2% ranged below 0.4 respectively with similar frequency distribution patterns. The AOD in autumn and winter were larger than that in spring and summer, and AOD in suburb was in certain extent smaller than that in city of Lanzhou. Aerosol existed in the layer below 4 km, and its extinction coefficient decreased with increasing of height.

Results of a multi-year comparison of the aerosol optical depth, derived by two operational algorithms based on lidar measurements with a Raman/elastic backscatter lidar in Thessaloniki, Greece and ground-based sun photometer observations are presented. Measurements from the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) database processed with the operational algorithm of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) for the period 2001-2007, have been reprocessed with the Single Calculus Chain (SCC) algorithm. The SCC algorithm was developed within the EARLINET to provide high quality, standardized aerosol optical products in near real time. The objective of this study is to verify for the case of Thessaloniki, the long-term consistency of the aerosol load estimates between the operational and the SCC derived data, in order to adopt the SCC for operational processing. The observed differences would introduce inhomogeneities in the time series when switching to SCC, so a full reprocessing is required. An investigation of the parameters affecting the comparisons is presented, considering the differences in the algorithms.

This paper discusses the relationships among the aerosol extinction coefficient error (AECE), background noise, and distance associated with lidar measurements. The AECE calculation is explained in detail, revealing that the AECE is the product of background noise, range squared, and a relation function. The result of an AECE calculation that uses lidar measurements obtained in Nanjing, China, agrees with a calculation that uses a simulated lidar signal. The AECE equation is verified with lidar measurement data and a simulated lidar signal, indicating the AECE equation is reasonable.

The diurnal variation in pollen vertical distributions in the atmosphere was observed by a surface-based lidar remote sensing technique. Aerosol extinction coefficient and depolarization ratio at 532 nm were obtained from lidar measurements in spring (4th May - 2nd June) 2009 at Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology (GIST) located in Gwangju, Korea (35.15°E, 126.53°N). Unusual variations of depolarization ratio were observed for six days from 4th to 9th May. Depolarization ratios varied from 0.08 to 0.14 were detected at the low altitude in the morning. The altitude with those high depolarization ratios was increased up to 1.5 - 2.0 km at the time interval between 12:00 and 14:00 LT and then decreased. The temporal variations in high values of depolarization ratios from lidar measurements show good agreement in patterns with the sampled pollen concentrations measured using the Burkard trap sampler. This study demonstrates that the pollen distribution data obtained by lidar measurements can be a useful tool for investigating spatial and temporal characteristic of pollen particles.

The dust case was analyzed by using aerosol extinction coefficient sequence chart retrieved by lidar observation data and meteorological observation data.The key factor of these two dust cases occurred was the dust transferred from North China,and the key reason of those two dust cases maintain so long was exogenous input and the vertical wind.The atmospheric profile affected the intensity of dust case.The dust case was holding when the temperature inversion occurred at the ground.The solar radiation affected the height of boundary layer.The main particulate matter is big size particle in the first dust case,and the aerosol scattering coefficient was higher than the aerosol absorption coefficient.The proportion of PM2.5 rose in the reflux dust case,and the aerosol scattering coefficient corresponded to the aerosol absorption coefficient.

Two dust events were detected over the Yangtze Delta region of China during March 14e17 and April 25e26 in 2009 where such dust events are uncommon. The transport behavior, spatio-temporal evolution, vertical structure, direct radiative effects, as well as induced heating rates, are investigated using a combination of ground-based and satellite-based measurements, a back-trajectory analysis, an aerosol model and a radiative transfer model. Back-trajectories, wind fields and aerosol model analyses show that the first dust originated in northern/northwestern China and the second generated in the Taklimakan desert in northwest China, and traveled across the Hexi corridor and Loess Plateau to the Yangtze Delta region (the so-called “dust corridor”). The mean lidar extinction-to-backscatter ratio (LR) during the two dust events was 38.7 � 10.4 sr and 42.7 � 15.2 sr, respectively. The mean aerosol depolarization ratio ( da )f or thefirst dust event was 0.16 � 0.07, with a maximum value of 0.32. For the second, the mean da was around 0.19 � 0.06, with a maximum value of 0.29. Aerosol extinction coefficient and da profiles for the two events were similar: two aerosol layers consisting of dust aerosols and a mixture of dust and anthropogenic pollution aerosols. The topmost aerosol layer is above 3.5 km. The maximum mean aerosol extinction coefficients were 0.5 km �1 and 0.54 km �1 at about 0.7 km and 1.1 km, respectively. Significant effects of cooling at the surface and heating in the atmosphere were found during these dust events. Diurnal mean shortwave radiative forcings (efficiencies) at the surface, the top-of-the-atmosphere and within the atmosphere were � 36.8 (� 80.0), � 13.6 (� 29.6) and 23.2 (50.4) Wm �2 , respectively, during the first dust event, and � 48.2 (� 70.9), � 21.4 (� 31.5) and 26.8 (39.4) Wm �2 , respectively, during the second dust event. Maximum heating rates occurred at 0.7 km during the first dust event and at 1.1 km during the second dust event, with a maximum value of 2.74 K day �1 for each

The aerosol comparison experiment was conducted in the Semi-Arid Climate and Environment Observatory of Lanzhou University since March to April 2007 with the measurements of two micro-pulse lidars MPL-4B and CE370-2. In the paper, the differences of aerosol extinction coefficient and optical depth retrieved from the observations of MPL-4B and CE370-2 are analyzed, and the results show: the aerosol extinction coefficient retrieved from the observation of MPL-4B is in general smaller than that from CE370-2, and the difference mainly exists in the low layer, while their trends of vertical profiles agree well; the aerosol optical depths from the observations of MPL-4B and CE370-2 correlate linearly rather well with the coefficient of 0.71, and the aerosol optical depth retrieved from the measurement of MPL-4B is less than that from CE370-2 in whole.

How to accurately calibrate the lidar data about haze in the presence of some cloud layers over the haze has always been a subject to be solved for data inversion of Mie scattering lidar. It is difficult for laser to penetrate the haze and clouds simultaneously, so the backscattering signal of lidar cannot be calibrated by using a clear air layer when the haze is under the low clouds. For the portable Mie scattering lidar with a detecting range of less than 6 km, it is also difficult to calibrate the lidar signals by using a clear air layer. An iterative algorithm for aerosol extinction coefficient is proposed based on the characteristics of the Fernald forward integral equation in this paper. By specific settings for the inversion process, the difference between the inversion value and the expected one of aerosol extinction coefficient is reduced after each iteration. After several iterations, the difference between the inversion value and the expected one of aerosol extinction coefficient is small enough to be negligible.The disadvantage of the iterative algorithm for aerosol extinction coefficient is that the inversion results are affected by the overlap factor of lidar. The errors of lidar overlap factor measured experimentally at different times are slightly different. However, the influence about the overlap factor of lidar measured experimentally at different times on the inversion results is slightly different when the iterative algorithm for aerosol extinction coefficient is used to calculate aerosol extinction coefficient.The results of preliminary calculation show that the iterative algorithm of aerosol extinction coefficient can accurately reproduce aerosol extinction coefficient profile without needing calibration of the lidar data. For the haze detection signal that cannot be calibrated by a clear air layer, the vertical distribution of the haze extinction coefficient can be accurately retrieved by the iterative algorithm for aerosol extinction coefficients. The vertical distribution of aerosol extinction coefficients can also be accurately retrieved by using the iterative algorithm of aerosol extinction coefficients for the Mie backscattering lidar data with the measuring height less than 6 km. Through comparative analysis and research, it is found that for the same lidar data, the aerosol extinction coefficient obtained by the iterative algorithm for aerosol extinction coefficient is closer to the actual value than that by the slope method.

Optical properties of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) above the land–sea transition interface were measured using a scanning Mie lidar located 30 km away from the Adriatic coast. Based on the two-dimensional range-height-indicator scans, detailed information on the ABL was obtained, including parameters such as atmospheric optical depth, aerosol extinction coefficient and the height of the ABL. The presented case study indicates that the height of the ABL in the land–sea transition zone and the adjacent mountainous region was changing rapidly due to highly variable atmospheric conditions.

A micro-pulse LIDAR system (MPL) was employed to measure the aerosol over Pudong, Shanghai from July 2008 to January 2009. Based on Fernald method, aerosol optical variables such as extinction coefficient were retrieved and analyzed. Results show that aerosol exists mainly in low layers; aerosol loading reaches its maximum in the afternoon, and then decreases with time until its minimum at night. Most of the aerosol concentrates in the layer below 3 km, and optical extinction coefficient in the layer below 2 km contributes 84.25% of that below 6 km. Two extinction coefficient peaks appear in the near surface layer up to 500 m and in the level around 1000 m. Aerosol extinction coefficient shows a seasonal downward trend from summer to winter.

To examine the effect of pollution control measures on Beijing air quality during the 2008 Olympic Games, this paper analyzes the variation of aerosol extinction coefficient observed with a Dual-wavelength Polarized Lidar in Beijing during the Olympic Games. The results show that (1) during the Beijing Olympic Games, the aerosol extinction coefficient decreased to about 42.3% in the surface layer (below 250 m) compared with that in 2007 under almost the same meteorological conditions, indicating the effectiveness of local air pollution control measures in Beijing areas; (2) the analysis of the aerosol extinction coefficient obtained before (Jul. 20–Aug. 7, 2008) and during the Beijing Olympic Games (Aug. 8–Aug. 24, 2008) shows a maximum decrease of daily aerosol extinction coefficient in layer of 0.5–1.5 km. To elucidate such a phenomenon, the transport of PM10 from surrounding areas to Beijing was simulated by NAQPMS (the Nested Air Quality Prediction Modeling System) during Jul. 20 to Aug. 24, 2008. Analysis of PM10 transport from neighboring areas indicated a decrease of 36.6% during the Olympic Games. This demonstrated the efficiency of pollution control measures in surrounding areas in improving air quality in Beijing.

The Raman multi-channels lidar developed by Wuhan University is described.The design principles of the whole system and main technical parameters are provided.The methods for retrieving aerosols' optical properties such as atmospheric aerosol extinction coefficient,backscattering coefficient and lidar ratio are presented in detail,and the key part of retrieving the aerosol extinction coefficient is discussed and analyzed.The real-time detections of optical properties for aerosol,cloud and boundary layer in the low-altitude atmosphere are done.The experiments show that the multi-channels Raman lidar system has good performance for detecting the vertical distribution of aerosols in the night and it is reliable.

Atmospheric aerosol extinction coefficient vertical profiles of near-surface in Hefei western suburb were measured by a CCD lidar system in the day and night,which could fill the gap of the traditional Mie-scattering lidar system especially in the blind area and overlapped region.By comparison of the aerosol extinction coefficient retrieved by Mie-scattering aerosol lidar and CCD lidar at night,the reliability of the CCD lidar system was verified,and the daytime detection of the CCD lidar system was feasible.Profiles of atmospheric aerosol extinction coefficient for 10-180 maltitude were obtained with high spatial resolution,of which the highest resolution was up to 1 cm.Two cases of aerosol extinction coefficient profiles showed that the aerosol extinction coefficient was not monotone decreasing in vertical direction,at the same time,changed violently in the day.The spatio-temporal evolution of aerosol extinction coefficient retrieved by CCD lidar showed that the overall aerosol had a tendency to reduce as the day getting dark.The daytime detection of aerosol extinction coefficient profile by using CCD lidar is credible and fulfilled.

Aerosol plays an important role in global climate and weather changes. Polarization lidar captures parallel and perpendicular signals from atmosphere to research aerosols. The lidar system we used has three emission wavelengths and could obtain the atmospheric aerosol extinction coefficient, backscattering coefficient and depolarization ratio. In this paper, the design of the lidar is described. The methods of data acquisition and inversion are given. Some recent results are presented.

This paper presents the aerosol vertical distribution observed in the western Mediterranean between February and April 2011 and between February 2012 and August 2013. An elastic backscattering lidar was continuously operated at a coastal site in the northern part of Corsica Island (Cap Corse) for a total of more than 14 000 h of observations. The aerosol extinction coefficient retrieved from cloud-free lidar profiles are analyzed along with the SEVIRI satellite aerosol optical depth (AOD). The SEVIRI AOD was used to constrain the retrieval of the aerosol extinction profiles from the lidar range-corrected signal and to detect the presence of dust or pollution aerosols. The daily average AOD at 550 nm is 0.16 (±0.09) and ranges between 0.05 and 0.80. A seasonal cycle is observed with minima in winter and maxima in spring–summer. High AOD days (above 0.3 at 550 nm) represent less than 10% of the totality of daily observations and correspond to the large scale advection of desert dust from Northern Africa or pollution aerosols from Europe. The respective origin of the air masses is confirmed using FLEXPART simulations in the backward mode. Dust events are characterized by a large turbid layer between 2 and 5 km height while pollution events show a lower vertical development with a thick layer below 3 km in altitude. However low level dust transport is also reported during spring while aerosol pollution layer between 2 and 4 km height has been also observed. We report an effective lidar ratio at 355 nm for pollution aerosols 68 (±13) Sr while it is 63 (±18) Sr for dust. The daily mean AOD at 355 nm for dust events is 0.61 (±0.14) and 0.71 (±0.16) for pollution aerosols events.

253 σ., Αντικείμενο της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι η μελέτη των τροποσφαιρικών αερολυμάτων με επίγειες και δορυφορικές τεχνικές, μέσω ανάλυσης των μετρήσεων για την ανάκτηση των οπτικών ιδιοτήτων και την στατιστική επεξεργασία τους. Στο πρώτο κεφάλαιο παρουσιάζουμε την υπάρχουσα διεθνή βιβλιογραφία, σχετικά με τις πηγές-προέλευση και τις οπτικές και μικροφυσικές ιδιότητες των τροποσφαιρικών αερολυμάτων, την επίδρασή τους στο γήινο κλίμα και στην ανθρώπινη υγεία. Το δεύτερο κεφάλαιο αναφέρεται σε μια γενικότερη επισκόπηση της τεχνικής lidar [light detection and ranging], καθώς επίσης και στις βασικές εξισώσεις που διέπουν τα συστήματα lidar με τα οποία ασχοληθήκαμε στην παρούσα διατριβή [lidar οπισθοσκέδασης, Raman lidar και lidar αποπόλωσης]. Στο τρίτο κεφάλαιο, παρουσιάζεται ο αναβαθμισμένος οπτικός σχεδιασμός [μέσω αναβαθμισμένων αλγορίθμων ελέγχου-βελτιστοποίησης συστημάτων Raman-lidar και οπτικών προσομοιώσεων με το λογισμικό οπτομηχανικού σχεδιασμού Zemax©], για τη βελτιστοποίηση του συστήματος Raman-lidar του ΕΜΠ [EOLE]. Στόχος της σχεδίασης αυτής ήταν η ελαχιστοποίηση της απόστασης πλήρους επικάλυψης του συστήματος σε αποστάσεις κάτω από τα 1000 m a.s.l. Επίσης παρουσιάζεται εκτενώς το νεοαποκτηθέν σύστημα lidar αποπόλωσης [AIAS] του Τομέα Φυσικής. Το τέταρτο κεφάλαιο, επικεντρώνεται κυρίως στο lidar αποπόλωσης και χωρίζεται σε 3 βασικά μέρη. Στο πρώτο, πραγματοποιείται η ανάλυση ευαισθησίας των υπαρχουσών τεχνικών βαθμονόμησης των συστημάτων lidar αποπόλωσης, με προσομοιώσεις, αλλά και με πειραματικά σήματα. Για την ανάκτηση του λόγου αποπόλωσης των σωματιδίων, αναπτύχθηκε ειδικός αλγόριθμος επεξεργασίας των σημάτων αποπόλωσης [γραφικό περιβάλλον Matlab©] και με βάση αυτόν τον αλγόριθμο, στο δεύτερο και τρίτο μέρος παρουσιάζεται η στατιστική επεξεργασία της σταθεράς βαθμονόμησης και του λόγου αποπόλωσης των σωματιδίων, όπως υπολογίσθηκαν από τα δύο χρόνια μετρήσεων του συστήματος AIAS [2011-2012], αντίστοιχα. Επιπλέον, στο πέμπτο κεφάλαιο, παρουσιάζονται οι οπτικές και μικροφυσικές ιδιότητες σωματιδίων ηφαιστειακής τέφρας και σωματιδίων ερημικής σκόνης στην ατμόσφαιρα πάνω από την Αθήνα. Για τα επεισόδια αυτά, εφαρμόσθηκε ειδικός αλγόριθμος [LIRIC] αντιστροφής σημάτων lidar για την ανάκτηση και της συγκέντρωσης των σωματιδίων, δίνοντας πλέον τη δυνατότητα στα συστήματα lidar να χρησιμοποιούνται σε μελέτες διακρίβωσης αριθμητικών προσομοιώσεων ατμοσφαιρικών μοντέλων [FLEXPART, BSC/DREAM8b]. Τέλος, το έκτο κεφάλαιο επικεντρώνεται σε επίγειες και δορυφορικές τεχνικές παθητικής τηλεπισκόπησης. Πιο συγκεκριμένα παρουσιάζεται η στατιστική ανάλυση δεδομένων τριών ετών [2006-2008], του οπτικού πάχους των αιωρούμενων σωματιδίων, όπως υπολογίσθηκε από το ηλιακό φωτόμετρο MFR, στην περιοχή της Αθήνας. Παρουσιάζεται επίσης, η συνεισφορά των διαφόρων πηγών σωματιδιακής ρύπανσης [ανά γεωγραφική περιοχή της Ευρώπης], στη μέση τιμή του οπτικού πάχους των σωματιδίων. Επίσης, πραγματοποιείται και μια σύγκριση 740 περίπου σύγχρονων χρονικά μετρήσεων των προαναφερόμενων επίγειων δεδομένων με τα αντίστοιχα δορυφορικά δεδομένα παθητικής τηλεπισκόπησης, όπως ανακτήθηκαν από τον δορυφορικό αισθητήρα MODIS. Στο έβδομο κεφάλαιο παρουσιάζονται τα βασικά συμπεράσματα της εργασίας αυτής., The main objective of this thesis is the study of tropospheric aerosols with ground-based and space-borne techniques, through statistical analysis of the retrieved aerosol optical properties. In the first chapter, we present the state of the art literature, concerning the sources and the optical-microphysical properties of tropospheric aerosols, as well as their impact on the Earth's climate and human health. The second chapter deals with a general overview of the existing lidar [light detection and ranging] techniques, as well as the basic formulation governing the lidar systems implemented in this thesis [lidar backscatter, Raman lidar and lidar depolarization]. In the third chapter, we present the enhanced optical design [based on upgraded algorithms for Raman lidar system optimization and optical simulations with the dedicated software Zemax©], of the optimized the Raman lidar NTUA’s system [EOLE]. The goal of this design, was the minimization of the distance of complete overlap, at ranges below 1000 m a.s.l.. In addition, the newly acquired depolarization lidar [AIAS], is extensively presented. The fourth chapter focuses mainly on the depolarization lidar and is divided into 3 parts. In the first part the sensitivity analysis of existing calibration techniques for depolarization lidar systems, either with simulations and with real signals is presented. For the retrieval of the particle depolarization ratio, a dedicated algorithm was developed for the processing of the depolarization lidar signals [GUI-Matlab©]. Based on this algorithm, the second and the third part present the statistical analysis of the systems calibration constant and the aerosol depolarization ratio, as those calculated from 2-year measurements with the AIAS system [2011-2012], respectively. The fifth chapter presents the optical and microphysical properties of different aerosols [volcanic dust and desert dust], over Athens. For these episodes, a dedicated inversion algorithm was applied [LIRIC], to retrieve the concentration of particles, giving more options to lidar systems to be used in calibration studies of numerical simulations of atmospheric models [FLEXPART, BSC/DREAM -8b]. Finally, the sixth chapter is focused on ground based and space borne passive remote sensing techniques. In particular, we present 3-year climatology [2006- 2008], of the aerosol optical depth, as retrieved by the ground based sun photometer MFR, in Athens. Furthermore, we also present the percentage of transboundary pollution that contributes to the mean AOD value in Athens. Finally, we present a comparison, of approximately 740 time- coincident cases, of aerosol optical properties, as retrieved by satellite sensor MODIS and a ground based sunphotometer, based on the passive remote sensing techniques., Παναγιώτης Ν. Κόκκαλης

Typically, we use Klett-Fernald method for retrieving aerosol optical properties. However, the results from these methods critically depend on the lidar ratio, thus affecting the accuracy of the inversion results. In this paper, we adopted a new method to retrieve the vertical distribution profiles of aerosol backscatter coefficient, aerosol extinction coefficient and lidar ratio over Beijing region by combining rotational Raman - Mie lidar and CALIPSO(Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations). The results were compared with the results determined by the conventional method, which shows a good agreement. Compared with the conventional method, the results from this new method are more reliable and less noisy, which provide richer information for researching the atmospheric aerosol properties over Beijing region.

The CALIOP (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization) layer product is used for a multimodel evaluation of the vertical distribution of aerosols. Annual and seasonal aerosol extinction profiles are analyzed over 13 sub-continental regions representative of industrial, dust, and biomass burning pollution, from CALIOP 2007-2009 observations and from AeroCom (Aerosol Comparisons between Observations and Models) 2000 simulations. An extinction mean height diagnostic (Z-alpha) is defined to quantitatively assess the models' performance. It is calculated over the 0-6 km and 0-10 km altitude ranges by weighting the altitude of each 100 m altitude layer by its aerosol extinction coefficient. The mean extinction profiles derived from CALIOP layer products provide consistent regional and seasonal specificities and a low inter-annual variability. While the outputs from most models are significantly correlated with the observed Z-alpha climatologies, some do better than others, and 2 of the 12 models perform particularly well in all seasons. Over industrial and maritime regions, most models show higher Z-alpha than observed by CALIOP, whereas over the African and Chinese dust source regions, Z-alpha is underestimated during Northern Hemisphere Spring and Summer. The positive model bias in Z-alpha is mainly due to an overestimate of the extinction above 6 km. Potential CALIOP and model limitations, and methodological factors that might contribute to the differences are discussed.

The structure of atmospheric boundary layer and its changes during the night at Wuhan in china are observed based on a Raman lidar. The heights of the mixed layer and the entrainment zone are measured by the visual inspection method and the SBH99 method. The SBH99 method is also improved to be based on aerosol extinction coefficient, which can avoid the errors brought in calculating the backscatter coefficient. The results indicate that the Raman lidar system has good ability to detect atmospheric boundary layer.

We present a comparison of aerosol properties derived from in situ and remote sensing instruments during DAMOCLES campaign, aimed at investigating the equivalence between the instrumentation and methodologies employed by several Spanish groups to study atmospheric aerosols at a regional background site. The complete set of instruments available during this closure experiment allowed collecting a valuable high-resolution aerosol measurement data set. The data set was augmented with airborne in situ measurements carried out in order to characterize aerosol particles during the midday of 29 June 2006. This work is focused on aerosol measurements using different techniques of high-quality instruments (ground-based remote sensing and aircraft in situ) and their comparisons to characterize the aerosol vertical profiles. Our results indicate that the variability between the detected aerosol layers was negligible in terms of aerosol optical properties and size distributions. Relative differences in aerosol extinction coefficient profiles were less than 20% at 355 and 532 nm and less than 30% at 1064 nm, in the region with high aerosol concentration. Absolute differences in aerosol optical depth (AOD) were below 0.01 at 532 and 1064 nm and less than 0.02 at 355 nm, less than the uncertainties assumed in the AOD obtained from elastic lidar. Columnar values of the lidar ratio revealed some discrepancies with respect to the in situ aircraft measurements, caused fundamentally by the lack of information in the lowest part of the boundary layer.

Laser radar (lidar) provides an excellent tool for characterizing the physical properties of atmospheric aerosols which play a very important role in modifying the radiative budget of the Earth's atmosphere. One of the important issues in lidar research is to derive accurate backscattering or extinction coefficient profiles required for understanding the basic mechanisms in the formation of aerosols and identifying their sources and sinks. Most of the inversion methods used for deriving the aerosol coefficients assume a range independent value for the extinction-to-backscattering ratio [lidar ratio, (LR)]. However, it is known that in a realistic atmosphere the value of LR is range dependent and varies with the physical and chemical properties of the aerosols. In this paper, we use a variant of widely applied Klett's method to obtain the range dependent LR values and derive the aerosol extinction profiles with good accuracy. We present the lidar derived aerosol extinction profiles in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere corresponding to different seasons of the year of two distinctly different stations in the Indian subcontinent namely Trivandrum (8.33� N, 770 E), Kerala, India, a coastal station and Gadanki (13.5� N, 79.2� E), Tirupati, India an inland station. The range dependent LR is derived corresponding to different seasons of the year at the two stations. The lidar ratio, aerosol extinction coefficient (AEC), aerosol scattering ratio, and aerosol optical depth show strong to medium seasonal variation at both the stations. The optical properties of the aerosols at the two stations differ considerably as evident from the various parameters obtained. The lidar ratio values at Trivandum vary in the range of 11-38 sr whereas the values range from 20-34 sr at Gadanki. AEC values at the Trivandum station vary from 7.9 � 10-6 to 6.9 � 10-5 m-1 and at Gadanki station the variation is from 1.27 � 10 -5 to 6.9 � 10-5 m-1. It is proposed to use back-trajectory analysis to understand the sources of aerosol at the two stations. � 2010 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.

The LIDAR (laser radar) is an active remote sensing technique, which allows for the altitude-resolved observation of several atmospheric constituents. A typical application is the measurement of the vertically resolved aerosol optical properties. By using aerosol particles as a marker, continuous determination of the mixing layer height (MLH) can also be obtained by LIDAR. Some examples of aerosol extinction coefficient profiles and MLH extracted from a 1-year LIDAR data set collected in Milan (Italy) are discussed and validated against in situ data (from a balloon-borne optical particle counter). Finally a comparison of the observation-based MLH with relevant numerical simulations (mesoscale model MM5) is provided.

Lidar is a powerful tool to monitor the variation of aerosol extinction coefficient profiles in atmospheric boundary layer. PM 10 , which is most familiar to environmental specialists, is the particle mass concentration whose diameter is not larger than 10μm. In this paper, PM 10 profiles, measured by lidar and DA-OPC at Beijing, is given and their variation is discussed.

Lidar observations had been conducted to study the long-range transport of aerosol and their effect at tropical station, Trivandrum during the period of 2001-2003. The presence of aerosol layers was observed on many days below about 5 km during the above period. The monthly values of aerosol extinction coefficient profile showed the presence of aerosol layer in the height region up to about 5 km during the summer monsoon periods. However, during the Asian winter monsoon period the aerosol layers were observed in the altitude region between 0.6 and 3 km. The extinction values were high in the winter season and were typically found to be 3.4×10-4 m-1. The aerosol optical depth was calculated by integrating the extinction values in the aerosol layer region and it was found to be between 0.2 and 0.35. The plausible reasons for the formation of these layers were explained using the wind circulation pattern and air back trajectories.

The measurements of aerosol extinction coefficient profiles and wind vertical structure were conducted by a lidar and a wind profiler respectively at Daxing southern boundary of Beijing in some periods of summer and winter during 2001-2004. The paper will discuss the variation ofaerosol pollutant layer and aerosol particles horizontal transportation by south-north direction at Daxing Beijing.