Abstract

The remote measurement of atmospheric aerosol backscatter coefficients using lidar is well suited for the present need to expand the statistical data base of backscatter coefficients over broad ranges of latitude, longitude, altitude, time, and weather conditions. Quantitative measurements in the 9-11 μm spectral region, for a variety of atmospheric conditions, are important for the assessment of the feasibility of various CO₂ lidar remote sensing goals. These goals include improved understanding of aerosol particles in the atmosphere, use of the DIAL technique to measure atmospheric species concentrations and distributions of pollutant gases, and an Earth-orbiting CO₂ lidar which would use aerosol backscatter to globally measure atmospheric winds for better understanding of processes occuring within the troposphere and for greatly enhanced 12 hour - 5 day weather forecasts.

© 1985 Optical Society of America