Backscatter lidar-ceilometer: a new eye-safe compact instrument for atmospheric aerosol and cloud sounding

A relatively simple eye-safe compact lidar with full solid state elements for measuring the aerosol backscatter coefficient and cloud height has been developed and tested. The lidar produces detailed the backscatter coefficient profiles within a hundred meters in daytime with a signal-to-noise ratio of 1:20. An important feature of this instrument is its ability to measure backscatter and extinction coefficient, cloud and invisible atmospheric layers height with its reflectivity, and background quantum flow, simultaneously. By using the direct relationship between backscattering, extinction, and liquid water content these measurements can be converted to the meteovisibility and aerosol mass loading in fog and clouds