Lidar calibration and extinction coefficients

Klett (1981) has presented an optical radar inversion scheme which utilizes only relative changes in the backscattered signal to produce estimates of atmospheric extinction as a function of range. It was also pointed out that better results could be obtained if use could be made of calibration information and/or other independent measurements to determine reference or boundary values of extinction sigma(m) more accurately. The present investigation is concerned with some characteristic features of a particular boundary value model for estimating sigma(m) based on knowledge of optical radar system constants, relative signal strength, and the relationship between the backscatter and extinction coefficients.