High-spectral-resolution lidar using an iodine absorption filter for atmospheric measurements

We develop high-spectral-resolution lidar (HSRL) using an iodine absorption filter and a narrow-band Nd:YAG laser with high-frequency-doubled output and use it for atmospheric measurements at the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES). The lidar system separates Doppler-broadened molecular scattering and unbroadened aerosol scattering components of the backscattered laser light, consequently providing direct measurements of these two signals. Due to stable and strong absorption at room temperature, iodine absorption filters are easy to use and they enable high rejection against aerosol scattering with a short length. The measurement principle with an error analysis and the system construction of the HSRL are described. Examples of aerosol and cloud observations made by the HSRL are also presented. The experimental results indicate that the HSRL is a powerful tool for quantitatively measuring aerosol and cloud optical properties. The use of a high-output laser gives our system the ability to provide stratospheric observations. We also present the HSRL measurements of the stratospheric temperature and backscatter profiles with better resolutions in both range and time. An example of temperature and backscatter measurements is shown for the altitude range from similar to 10 to similar to 40 km with a vertical resolution of 300 m and an integrated time of similar to 2 h. (C) 1999 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. [S0091-3286(99)00910-1].