Wednesday, 12 February 2003: 2:15 PM
Raman Lidar Measurements of Tropospheric Ozone
Raman lidar techniques have been developed and demonstrated which provide measurements of meteorological properties with high spatial and temporal resolution. The vibrational and rotational Raman lidar signals provide simultaneous profiles of water vapor, temperature, ozone and optical extinction due to airborne particulate matter. The instrument makes use of 2nd and 4th harmonic generated laser beams of a Nd:YAG laser to provide both daytime and nighttime measurements. The ozone profiles in the lower troposphere are measured using a DIAL analysis of the ratio of the vibrational Raman signals for nitrogen (284 nm) and oxygen (278 nm), which are on the steep side of the Hartley absorption band of ozone. Several data sets have been obtained during the NARSTO-NE-OPS measurement programs and the results from these events have been the subject of several recent investigations. Here the ozone measurements from the lidar have been studied and comparisons made with ground based measurements, tethersonde measurements and aircract measurements. Examples have been selected to show the new level of understanding of air quality investigations that is gained from applications of lidar techniques. These techniques are expected to provide the primary means for profiling meteorological parameters in the future.
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