ABSTRACT

Lidar stands for Light Detection and Ranging. Laser radars, or lidars, which are optically the closest counterparts of conventional microwave radars, take advantage of the relatively strong interaction of laser light with atmospheric constituents. They offer superior spatial and temporal resolution and are effective remote-sensing instruments. Wind, Raman, and other lidar-sensing instruments encompass a wide range of systems—unprecedented long-range wind, aerosol, and molecular chemical probes that find striking applications in the field of pollution and environmental monitoring, meteorology, and in aeronautics (as early-warning systems). This entry classifies lidar systems into the following: 1) aerosol-sensing lidars; 2) wind-sensing lidars; and 3) Raman and other lidar systems. The entry focuses on the primary fields of application for lidar systems.