Atmospheric temperature measurements using a pure rotational Raman lidar.

A Raman lidar technique for measuring atmospheric temperature using pure rotational Raman spectra of N2 and O2 is discussed in detail. The use of a double-grating monochromator in the lidar for isolating two portions of the pure rotational Raman spectrum (PRRS) of N2 and O2 and suppressing the line of aerosol light scattering is experimentally shown to be very efficient. The feasibility of the method is convincingly illustrated by the results of laboratory experiments, as well as with measurements of air temperature carried out in the atmosphere. The accuracy of temperature measurements using the ratio of intensities of two portions of PRRS of N2 and O2 was ∼±0.74 K in laboratory experiments. The accuracy of the atmospheric temperature profile measurements using the lidar varied from 0.8 K at altitudes up to 300–400 mto, and slightly exceeded, ±1.5 K at 1-km height. Lidar temperature data are in good agreement with radiosonde data.