An investigation of high spectral resolution lidar measurements over the ocean

Analysis of data measured by the NASA Langley airborne High Spectral Resolution Lidar is presented focusing on measurements over the ocean. The HSRL is a dual wavelength polarized system (1064 and 532 nm) with the inclusion of a molecular backscatter channel at 532 nm. Data from aircraft flights over the Pamlico Sound out to the Atlantic Ocean, over the Caribbean west of Barbados, and off the coast of Barrow, Alaska are evaluated. Analysis of the data demonstrates that the molecular channel detects the presence of water due to its ability to differentiate the Brillouin- Mandelshtam spectrum, i.e. the scattering spectrum of water, from the Rayleigh/Mie spectrum. The characteristics of the lidar measurements over water, land, ice, and mixed ice/water surfaces are examined. Correlations of the molecular channel lidar signals with bathymetry (ocean depth) and extraction of attenuation from the HSRL lidar measurements are presented and contrasted with ocean color data.

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