A new lidar inversion method using a surface reference target applied to the backscattering coefficient and lidar ratio retrievals of a fog-oil plume at short range

In this paper, a new elastic lidar inversion equation is presented. It is based on the backscattering signal from a surface reference target (SRT) rather than that from a volumetric layer of reference (Rayleigh molecular scatterer) as is usually done. The method presented can be used when the optical properties of such a layer are not available, e.g., in the case of airborne elastic lidar measurements or when the lidar–target line is horizontal Also, a new algorithm is described to retrieve the lidar ratio and the backscattering coefficient of an aerosol plume without any a priori assumptions about the plume. In addition, our algorithm allows a determination of the instrumental constant. This algorithm is theoretically tested, viz. by means of simulated lidar profiles and then using real measurements. Good agreement with available data in the literature has been found.