Combined temperature lidar for measurements in the troposphere, stratosphere, and mesosphere

Appl Opt. 2004 May 10;43(14):2930-9. doi: 10.1364/ao.43.002930.

Abstract

We describe the performance of a combined Raman lidar. The temperature is measured with the rotational Raman technique and with the integration technique simultaneously. Additionally measured parameters are particle extinction and backscatter coefficients and water vapor mixing ratio. In a previous stage of the system, instrumental problems restricted the performance. We describe how we rebuilt the instrument and overcame these restrictions. As a result, the measurement time for the same spatial resolution and accuracy of the rotational Raman temperature measurements is reduced by a factor of approximately 4.3, and their range could be extended for the first time to the upper stratosphere.