Abstract

Vertical structure information can be acquired by performing lidar measurements under positive elevation angles. [1-9]. Problems are encountered in inverting these data because a relation between extinction and backscatter is required in order to obtain a unique solution of the lidar equation. Besides a boundary condition is needed at any distance within the range of the lidar signal. Error analysis proves that zeroes and singularities in the solution are avoidable when the inversion is started at the end of the measurement track [9]. The solution converges to the real extinction at smaller distances. This convergence occurs faster when the optical depth is larger. A disadvantage of this method is that the boundary value has to be estimated or calculated at a point where the signal to noise ratio is small, leading to inaccurate values.

© 1983 Optical Society of America