Application of Surface Based and Airborne Lidar Systems for Environmental Monitoring

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Abstract
The application of currently available surface based and airborne lidar systems for environmental monitoring is reviewed, supplementing a recent review of systems used to monitor gaseous pollutants. Laser radiation is ideally suited for use in radar fashion (lidar) for remotely observing aerosol concentrations. Space and time variability of aerosol inhomogeneities provides unique information on atmospheric behavior needed by environmental research and operational programs. Quantitative descriptions concerning the vertical growth of boundary layers and the transport of effluent plumes over long downwind distances have been a major application. Lidar has been accepted as an alternative method for evaluating particulate plume opacities to enforce stationary source emission standards. Extension of the lidar technique for remote measurements of particulate concentrations has been demonstrated and is under further development. Airborne systems have extended the capability for observation over large regional areas.

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