Mobile Aerosol Raman Polarizing Lidar LOSA-A2 for Atmospheric Sounding

Abstract

The mobile aerosol Raman polarizing lidar LOSA-A2 designed at V.E. Zuev Institute of Atmospheric Optics SB RAS is presented. Its main technical specifications are given. The lidar carries out sounding of the atmosphere of a Nd:YAG laser at two wavelengths, 1064 nm and 532 nm. Optical selection of lidar signals at these wavelengths is performed by two identical telescopes with diameters of 120 mm and a focal length of 500 mm. In the visible channel, the signal is divided into two orthogonal polarized components, and a Raman signal at a wavelength of 607 nm is separated. The lidar was tested in aircraft and ship research expeditions. Results of the study of spatial aerosol distribution over the Baikal with the use of LOSA-A2 lidar received during ship-based research expeditions are described. The first in situ tests of the lidar were carried out in an aircraft expedition in the north of Western Siberia.