Comparison of indigenously developed micro pulse polarization lidar with EZ lidar profiles.

A Micro Pulse Polarization LIDAR (MPPL) has been designed and developed for aerosol and cloud studies at National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, India (28° 35′ N, 77° 12′E) using a low-energy pico-second pulsed Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm and single PMT detector. This has been used for detecting depolarization characteristics with back-scatter coefficient of atmospheric aerosols and clouds. The back-scattered signals are detected at the emitted wavelength with co-polarization and cross-polarization discrimination with a mirror on stepper motor for aerosols and cloud. Data are obtained by MPPL and are inter-compared with a well-established commercial Leosphere made EZ LIDAR, industry standard at the same site and time, and the results are found to be in good agreement. In the present communication the back-scattered coefficient, aerosols optical depth, depolarization ratio etc. obtained using MPPL & EZ LIDAR are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]