Remote Sensing of Methanol Molecules in the Atmosphere by Raman Spectra

The lidar equation for Raman backscattering by methanol molecules is numerically solved for probing of molecules in the atmosphere with concentrations in the range of 10 12 –10 18 cm –3 at distances of up to 1000 m in the synchronous photon counting mode. It is shown that, using a Raman lidar with a laser wavelength of 405 nm, it is possible to detect methanol molecules with concentrations on the order of 10 16 cm –3 at distances of up to 600 m for a measurement time of 1 s.