Abstract

The University of Wisconsin high spectral resolution lidar (HSRL) technique interferometrically separates the atmospheric backscattered signal into its aerosol and molecular constituents (Shipley et al., (1983), Sroga et al. (1983)). Recent improvements in the HSRL are shown schematically in Fig. 1. Most notable among the changes are: the incorporation of a CuCl₂ laser transmitter, some receiver simplification and temperature stabilization, and, the installation of phototubes with very low afterpulse probability. These changes allow operating periods of up to 7 hrs before retuning, lower statistical noise, and decreased calibration uncertainty. The improvements have led to reduced time averaging requirements, while maintaining daylight and eye-safe operations.

© 1985 Optical Society of America