Abstract

Clouds are important to the weather and climate of the earth. The recent increase in concern about climate change has caused a resurgence of interest in cloud research. All lidars can observe bulk structure, e.g., cloud base height and fractional cover. Lidars can also reveal information about the microphysics of clouds. For instance, polarization ruby lidar (0.694μm wavelength) can discriminate whether clouds are composed of ice or water particles¹. Each type of lidar can perform some measurements that other types cannot accomplish as well or at all. This paper describes some of the special attributes and measurement capabilities of coherent lidars, including examples from Wave Propagation Laboratory’s (WPL) CO₂ system.

© 1991 Optical Society of America