A micro-pulsed LIDAR for the study of the lower troposphere and atmospheric boundary layer

Abstract

The current largest unknown variable in global climate models is the effect of aerosols directly and indirectly on radiative forcing. This thesis continues the work of characterizing this effect through the study of aerosols by the use of lidar. A micro-pulsed lidar was designed, fabricated and incorporated into a set of instruments for atmospheric studies at Montana State University. The data collected up to this point shows the usefulness of employing such a system in conjunction with other remote sensing instruments as well as in-situ instruments. This is shown by the retrieval of aerosol backscatter and extinction coefficients as well as lapse rates and atmospheric boundary layer heights.