Abstract

Lidar has proven to be a useful remote sensor in studying the dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere under a wide range of meteorological conditions and in a variety of terrain. In these situations lidar has demonstrated that it is able to provide quantitative information on the important parameters plume centerline and the σ_y and σ_z dispersion coefficients. Further, these measurements can be determined as functions of time and mean values extracted. The value of such numbers as inputs to air quality models must be emphasised as there are few competitors that can define the physical extent of a plume over some 10 km of downwind distance on say a 10 minute timescale. In this sense the value of lidar in supporting air quality dispersion investigations seems assured for some years to come.