Colloquium: 15 Aug 2008, Loc/Time TBA

The results of application of multiwavelength Mie-Raman lidar based on a tripled Nd:YAG laser  for profiling of aerosol parameters in the planetary boundary layer are presented. This lidar quantifies three aerosol backscattering and two extinction coefficients and from these optical data the particle parameters such as concentration, size and complex refractive index are retrieved through inversion with regularization. The lidar results reveal a strong dependence on relative humidity (RH). The height regions with enhanced RH are characterized by an increase of backscattering and extinction coefficient and a decrease in the Ångström exponent coinciding with an increase in the particle size. We conclude that the scattering enhancements are likely due to hygroscopic particle growth that occurred in the PBL aided by the high RH. The possibility to extend the lidar potential by performing the measurements at several fields of view is considered.