Micro pulse lidar (MPL) application for tropospheric aerosol and cloud

Although the lidar history is more than 30 years, most of the lidar systems used in the atmospheric research were laboratory system which are not reliable and portable for field application. For the long term continuous observation of the aerosol and cloud in the atmosphere, a commercial grade micro pulse lidar (MPL) was developed about 5 years ago. Since then more than 25 systems are working around the world in a continuous mode for more than years. Examples of some unique observation by MPL such as dark band under the precipitating cloud will be presented in this presentation. In addition to the examples of observation, performance charateristics of newly developed two wavelengths lidar system will be discussed.