ABSTRACT
The laser radar, or lidar (for light detection and ranging) is an important tool for atmospheric studies. Lidar provides a unique and powerful method for unobtrusively profiling aerosols, wind, water vapor, temperature, and other atmospheric parameters. This entry is focused on atmospheric applications involving pulsed lasers. It describes atmospheric scattering processes and the physics behind laser–atmosphere interactions. Some of the primary lidar applications are highlighted, with brief descriptions of each measurement capability. The practical aspects of lidar operation, including the governing equation and operational considerations are then presented.
