* Focuses only on elastic lidars and directly related topics. * Evaluates all of the major inversion and analysis methods. * Covers an emerging field that is generating a lot of interest.

* Focuses only on elastic lidars and directly related topics. * Evaluates all of the major inversion and analysis methods. * Covers an emerging field that is generating a lot of interest.

Provides tools and techniques to identify and address distortions and to interpret data coming from Lidar sensing technology This book covers the issues encountered in separating the backscatter and transmission terms in the LIDAR equation when profiling the atmosphere with zenith-directed and vertically-scanning Lidars. Solutions in Lidar Profiling of the Atmosphere explains how to manage and interpret the Llidar signals when the uncertainties of the involved atmospheric parameters are not treatable statistically. The author discusses specific scenarios for using specific scenarios for profiling vertical aerosol loading. Solutions in Lidar Profiling of the Atmosphere emphasizes the use of common sense when interacting with potentially large distortions inherent in most inversion techniques. Addresses the systematic errors in LIDAR measurements Proposes specific methods to estimate systematic distortions Explains how to apply these methods to both simulated and real data Solutions in Lidar Profiling of the Atmosphere is written for scientists, researchers, and graduate students in Meteorology and Geophysics.

In this thesis, a new lidar (light detection and ranging) ceilometer capable of monitoring cloud base and sensitive to boundary layer aerosols is introduced. The key to this novelty lies in its divided-lens design that addresses a classical lidar problem of balancing transmitter-receiver overlap and signal-to-noise ratio, along with a method for characterizing overlap in the laboratory. Enhanced sensitivity in the near-range of the instrument is achieved without compromising signal-to-noise in a design that is straightforward to manufacture for broad deployment. The instrument, its optical characterization, and its performance in the field are described. The prototype instrument described here has since formed the basis of a commercial sensor for monitoring clouds and aerosols. High-resolution, continuous observations of clouds and aerosols are needed to reduce the large uncertainties in our current understanding of their influence on climate that have been highlighted by the International Panel on Climate Change. And as international health organizations indicate growing public health threats over the coming decades resulting from poor air quality, extensive aerosol monitoring is required to assess personal exposure to and the health impacts of anthropogenic particulates. Ground-based optical remote sensing measurements made by well-characterized instruments, such as that described in these pages, are critical to this.

Provides tools and techniques to identify and address distortions and to interpret data coming from Lidar sensing technology This book covers the issues encountered in separating the backscatter and transmission terms in the LIDAR equation when profiling the atmosphere with zenith-directed and vertically-scanning Lidars. Solutions in Lidar Profiling of the Atmosphere explains how to manage and interpret the Llidar signals when the uncertainties of the involved atmospheric parameters are not treatable statistically. The author discusses specific scenarios for using specific scenarios for profiling vertical aerosol loading. Solutions in Lidar Profiling of the Atmosphere emphasizes the use of common sense when interacting with potentially large distortions inherent in most inversion techniques. Addresses the systematic errors in LIDAR measurements Proposes specific methods to estimate systematic distortions Explains how to apply these methods to both simulated and real data Solutions in Lidar Profiling of the Atmosphere is written for scientists, researchers, and graduate students in Meteorology and Geophysics.