Raman lidar measurements of airborne particulate matter
Document ID: 157
Li, Guangkun1
Philbrick, C. Russell1
Allen, George A.2
1 The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Electrical Engineering, University Park, PA, U.S.A.
2 Harvard University, School of Public Health, Boston, MA, U.S.A.
Abstract
Raman Lidar techniques have been used to provide remote sensing measurements of the aerosol optical extinction profiles from the particles in the atmosphere, as well as water vapor, temperature and ozone profiles. The variation of optical extinction associated with aerosols with respect to atmospheric conditions is useful in understanding the evolution of pollution events. Several cases of extinction, water vapor and ozone lidar results from the NARSTO-NE-OPS program in Philadelphia during summers of 1998, 1999 and 2001 have been investigated. Examples of lidar results are compared with other measurements such as PM sampling and radiosonde measurements. Knowledge of aerosol optical properties assumes significant importance in the wake of studies strongly correlating airborne particulate matter with adverse health effects.