Efficient Ultraviolet Rotational Raman Lidar for Temperature Profiling of the Planetary Boundary Layer

An efficient rotational Raman scattering lidar using an ultraviolet-wavelength laser has been developed for temperature profile measurement of the planetary boundary layer in the lower troposphere. In this system, the high rejection of intense elastic Rayleigh and Mie backscattering was realized by a rotational Raman spectrometer using a diffraction grating and dual interference filters. Temperature measurement in thin cloud was demonstrated, and it was shown that the temperature profile obtained by lidar measurement is in good agreement with that obtained by radiosonde measurement. A statistical error of less than 1 K was obtained up to 2.5 km height in daytime measurement and up to 4.6 km height in nighttime measurement in clear air with an observation time of 16 min.