Abstract

As reported previously (Spinhirne et al., 1980), vertical profiles of particulate extinction may be determined from multiple zenith angle lidar measurements, i.e., the slant path technique. This measurement approach has been employed on a semiroutine basis over the past, three years in an investigation of the optical properties of atmospheric particulates near Tucson. Preliminary results of this work were given at the last lidar conference (Reagan et al., 1980). This paper will update the previously reported results regarding observed particulate extinction profiles, mixing layer heights, mixing layer particulate optical depths, and mixing layer particulate extinction-to-backscatter ratios. In addition, results will also be presented from an intercomparative experiment which included lidar slant path measurements, tethered balloon measurements of particulate size distributions, and solar radiometer measurements of particulate spectral optical depth. These data are being analyzed to assess the extent to which lidar observed patterns in particulate extinction and backscatter may be related to specific forms of the particulate size distribution and certain ranges of the particulate refractive index.