Analytical solution of the two-frequency lidar inversion technique.
A two-frequency lidar inversion on the assumptions of a range-independent relationship between the extinction coefficients of the two considered lidar wavelengths and of constant extinction-to-backscatter ratios was originally developed by Potter [Appl. Opt. 26, 1250 (1987)]. It is an iterative procedure to retrieve the boundary value for solution of the single-scatter lidar equation. This boundary value is expressed by the aerosol transmission along the evaluated lidar path. Recently, Kunz [Appl. Opt. 38, 1015 (1999)] stated that there is not enough information in the lidar signals of two wavelengths to obtain a unique solution for the boundary value and hence for the aerosol extinction profile. It is shown that a unique solution of the two-frequency lidar inversion exists, for which an analytical expression of the boundary value and, hence, the aerosol extinction profile, is given.
Ackermann
J
J
Meteorologisches Institut, Universität München, Theresienstrasse 37, D-80333 Munich, Germany. uh234aj@mail.lrz-muenchen.de