ABSTRACT
Lidar is an acronym of light detection and ranging. Laser radars or lidars are the closest optical counterparts of conventional microwave radars that take advantage of the relatively strong interaction of laser light with the atmospheric constituents, and of a much better spatial and temporal resolution to be effective remote-sensing instruments. Aerosol-sensing lidars are long-range aerosol-detection probes that when combined with cooperative instrumentation and atmospheric models find interesting applications in pollution and environmental monitoring and meteorology as well.
