Identification of aerosol species using polarization lidar

This paper presents a new approach that has been developed to identify individual aerosol species using polarization lidar measurements. Individual aerosols can be identified based on their distinct ratios of extinction to backscatter, which are related to the depolarization ratio profile. Aerosol backscatter coefficients can be obtained from these ratios. Differential aerosol backscatter coefficients are proportional to the variation of the ratio of extinction to backscatter coefficient, and the coefficients increase, reach a peak value, and then decrease again, with increasing range.