Daytime Raman-lidar measurements of water vapor.

Raman scattering from the major components of the atmosphere is observed at daytime, using a frequency-quadrupled YAG laser as source. A method to calculate the water-vapor-mixing ratio with the O2, N2, and H2O Raman-lidar returns is presented that takes into account the ozone ultraviolet attenuation. Water-vapor experimental profiles are obtained up to 1000 m with 30-m resolution; accuracy is about 10% at a range of 500 m. Starting from these results, a numerical study is made to assess the possibilities for an improved Raman-lidar system.