The methodology of integrated ground-based and satellite monitoring of atmospheric aerosols is discussed, and an algorithm for processing data from coordinated lidar and radiometric measurements (LRS) is described. The algorithm was tested to study the altitude profiles of the aerosol parameters in the vicinity of the AERONET stations using data from ground-based solar radiometers and the CALIOP satellite lidar. To verify the results of satellite sensing, coordinated measurements with AERONET network radiometers and ground-based multi-wavelength lidars at the remote sensing stations of the Institute of Physics, NASB (Minsk, Belarus), Institute of Atmospheric Optics, SB RAS (Tomsk, Russia) and KRSU (Teplokluchenka, Kyrgyzstan) were used.

This paper introduces the recent European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) quality-assurance efforts at instrument level. Within two dedicated campaigns and five single-site intercomparison activities, 21 EARLINET systems from 18 EARLINET stations were intercompared between 2009 and 2013. A comprehensive strategy for campaign setup and data evaluation has been established. Eleven systems from nine EARLINET stations participated in the EARLINET Lidar Intercomparison 2009 (EARLI09). In this campaign, three reference systems were qualified which served as traveling standards thereafter. EARLINET systems from nine other stations have been compared against these reference systems since 2009. We present and discuss comparisons at signal and at product level from all campaigns for more than 100 individual measurement channels at the wavelengths of 355, 387, 532, and 607 nm. It is shown that in most cases, a very good agreement of the compared systems with the respective reference is obtained. Mean signal deviations in predefined height ranges are typically below ±2 %. Particle backscatter and extinction coefficients agree within ±2 × 10−4 km−1 sr−1 and ± 0.01 km−1, respectively, in most cases. For systems or channels that showed larger discrepancies, an in-depth analysis of deficiencies was performed and technical solutions and upgrades were proposed and realized. The intercomparisons have reinforced confidence in the EARLINET data quality and allowed us to draw conclusions on necessary system improvements for some instruments and to identify major challenges that need to be tackled in the future.

A number of unified photodetector modules providing for recording lidar signals in the wavelength range from 0.26 to 1.6 μm in the modes of analog signals and photon counting are developed on the basis of photomultiplier tubes and avalanche photodiodes. The software is created for control of the photodetector modules, as well as the test bench for measuring their characteristics is designed.

An algorithm and software suite for computing profiles of atmospheric aerosol optical parameters using Raman lidar-sensing data were presented. A two-step procedure for statistical regularization of the solution was carried out within the algorithm. Initially, the lidar ratio in the aerosol layer was considered to be constant and its value was calculated. Then, the profile of the aerosol lidar ratio was corrected with additional restrictions on the smoothness of the solution and the deviation from the mean. A program module executing the proposed algorithm was described and represented a part of an integrated LIRIC software suite for processing complex lidar and radiometric data from atmospheric aerosol sensing.

The work is devoted to the development and creation of the powerful all solid-state air-cooled multiwave Nd:YAG laser integrated with the output telescope system and to the development of the LD-pumped solid-state source with the extremely narrow lasing linewidth. The laser sources are meant for operation with the multiwave aerosol LIDAR (atmosphere probing altitude is up to 40 km).

An all-solid-state multiwave laser radiator (lasing wavelengths 1064, 532, and 355 nm), integrated in a single implement with a telescope, has been developed for use in aerosol lidars. The main radiator is the master laser and an amplifier based on a YAG:Nd crystal, excited by laser diode arrays using a transverse pumping layout. In the Q-switched regime, the energy of the output pulses of the YAG:Nd laser radiator reaches 400 mJ (1064 nm). With simultaneous lasing at three wavelengths, the radiator forms radiation pulses at 1064, 532, and 355 nm, with energies of 170, 150, and 80 mJ, respectively. The pulse width is 8-11 ns at a repetition rate of 10 Hz. The developed multiwave laser radiator is effective for use as a component of aerosol lidars with an atmospheric probing range of up to 40 km. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America.

Ten combined lidar and sun-radiometer stations in theEuropean Aerosol Research Lidar Network(EARLINET) have been testing technique and software for retrieving aerosol microstructure parameters from coordinated lidar and sun-radiometer data with the aim of creating new type of routing cooperative observations. The paper presents description of a program package and preliminary results of testing measurements at some stations.

In 2010 and first half of 2011, a background aerosol content was observed in the atmosphere of the Northern Hemisphere midlatitudes. The report presents the observations of aerosol disturbances of the stratosphere in the second half of 2011, which were performed at lidar network stations of CIS countries CIS-LiNet in Minsk (53.9°N; 27.6°E), Tomsk (56.5°N; 85.0°E), and Vladivostok (43.0°N; 131.9°E). Data of lidar measurements at the sensing wavelengths of 353, 355, and 532 nm indicate that increased aerosol content was observed since June – July almost until the end of 2011 in the lower stratosphere up to the altitudes ~ 18 km. A well-defined, temporally stable aerosol layer was observed until October 2011 in the altitude interval ~ (13-17) km. The trajectory analysis of air mass transport in the stratosphere according to NOAA HYSPLIT MODEL with employment of CALIPSO satellite data shows that the increased aerosol content observed was most likely due to transport of eruption products of Grimsvötn volcano (May 21, 2011, Iceland: 64.4°N; 17.3°W).

Eleven EARLINET lidar systems were directly compared during EARLI09 in Leipzig, Germany, in may, 2009. The measurement and signal comparison strategies are presented and some examples shown.

The results of lidar observations of stratospheric aerosol perturbations for the period of July–November 2008 at three lidar stations of the CIS-LiNet network in Tomsk, Minsk, and Vladivostok are presented along with the results obtained in the Gobi Desert during a research expedition. The behavior of stratospheric profiles of the scattering ratio R(H) (ratio of the total aerosol and molecular backscattering coefficient to the molecular backscattering coefficient) is analyzed at different wavelengths characterizing the aerosol stratification in the stratosphere. The transport of air masses in the stratosphere is studied by the method of direct and backward trajectories using the NOAA HYSPLIT model. It is shown that stratospheric aerosol perturbations are connected with explosive eruptions of volcanoes of the Aleutian islands Okmok (53.4° N, 168.1° W; July 12, 2008) and Kasatochi (52.2° N, 175.5° W; August 6–8, 2008).

Ambient air pollution with particulate matter constitutes a significant public health danger. The potential health effect depends on parameters of suspended particles. The paper develops a procedure for studying aerosol microstructure variability in the lower atmospheric layer over the territory of an industrial center by a multi-wavelength scanning lidar and a Sun-sky radiometer. An algorithm for data processing of a comprehensive experiment uses integral optical parameters of the aerosol layer provided by the radiometer as a prior information to process lidar data while retrieving spatial distribution of aerosol microstructure.A long series of combined lidar and radiometer measurements have been carried out in Minsk. The observed temporal changes of total column amount of fine and coarse aerosol fractions are discussed in the paper. Statistical characteristics of particle size distributions have been evaluated.The spatial variability of fine and coarse aerosol fraction concentrations was observed over the city. Comparison of aerosol concentration distributions during two year observations reveals stable zones with increased concentration of fine particles, possible reason being technological peculiarities of industrial enterprises located in these regions.

The paper presents the results of measurements of spatial variations of aerosol backscatter coefficient spectra by a multiwavelength lidar. Lidar signals processing and measurements results interpretation are implemented with the data of a sun-sky-radiometer CIMEL involved. Maps of fine and coarse aerosol fractions concentration over an industrial center for a two-component aerosol model have been developed.

We present here model optical characteristics of industrial (urban) aerosols as applied to laser sounding and radiative transfer problems at spectral ranges 0.4 to 1, 4 to 6, and 8 to 12 mkm. The model is based on the widely used W-MO model of urban aerosols with some corrections in particle size distributions (PSD) and volume contents of each aerosol fraction. The corrections were required to explain, at least qualitatively, our experimental data on atmospheric laser sounding. The advantages and drawbacks of the WMO model are discussed.

The dynamics of the optical parameters of stratospheric aerosol produced by the Mt. Pinatubo eruption is given. Measurements were carried out using a two-wavelength lidar with operating wavelengths of 532 and 1064 nm. The processing procedure of the data obtained with two-wavelength polarization laser sounding is described. The aerosol backscattering coefficient and depolarization coefficient at a wavelength of 532 nm and the ratio of the backscattering coefficients taken at two wavelengths are given in the form of isolines in the height-time plane. Possible temporal transformations of stratospheric-aerosol microphysical characteristics governing variations in the optical parameters are discussed.

The results of developing a system for upper troposphere and stratosphere optical monitoring in Belarus are presented. Atmosphere aerosol and ozone parameters measurements are performed with the help of the solar spectrometer-ozonometer and multi-wavelength lidar. Methodology and equipment description is presented. A review of full-scale investigation results is given. Total ozone concentration (TOC) measurements have been carried out in Belarus since 1994. Investigations of seasonal TOC variations have been performed. Stability and growth of TOC average values were observed in 1996-1999. Stratosphere aerosol monitoring has been in progress since 1985. Data describing transformation of stratospheric aerosol microstructure after Pinatubo eruption are presented.

Within the frame of the program on ecological monitoring of air masses, researchers of the Institute of Physics have performed a series of experiments on multi-frequency atmospheric laser sounding over the industrial region of Soligorsk City, Belarus. We obtained extinction, scattering, backscatter coefficients, and lidar ratio over the wavelength range of 0.38 to 1.06 mkm. There was observed a number of peculiarities in the said spectral dependencies differing from those for quite a pure atmosphere. Specifically, backscatter and lidar ratio spectra could have a maximum within the studied spectral range or increase monotonically towards the infrared edge of the spectral range. As for atmospheric sounding at sites rather distant from high-power polluting sources, one observes usually decreasing corresponding spectral dependencies with wavelength increasing. The same behavior is given by well-known optical models of atmospheric aerosols, e.g. by the WMO model(1) To explain the differences between the observations and model computations, we introduce varying parameters of particle size distributions into the WMO model and varying volume concentrations of various aerosol species. The observed spectral features are really turned out can be explained within the scope of the simple model of spherical particles at anomalous high contents of the coarse dust component. In particular, the increase in backscatter coefficient (lidar ratio) of urban aerosols or its non-mononotic changes with wavelength of the 0.38-1.06 mkm range is shown can serve as an indicator of a local source of coarse particles near the sounding path.

We present the dynamics of stratospheric aerosol characteristics after the Mt. Pinatubo eruption. Measurements were carried out with a lidar, which has been operating at 532 and 1064 nm wavelengths. An approach to the processing of two-wavelength polarization sounding data is presented. Altitude-temporal dependence contours of the aerosol backscatter ratio, the ratio of aerosol backscatter coefficients at two wavelengths, and the aerosol linear depolarization ratios are given. Possible temporal transformations of the stratospheric aerosol microstructure characteristics that cause the changes in optical parameters are discussed.

As a result of the volcano eruptions, an enormous amount of matter in gaseous and aerosol phases is ejected into the atmosphere. Changes in the stratospheric aerosol layer (SAL) parameters are an important factor that affects radiation processes in the atmosphere and ozone layer transformations. The monitoring of SAL parameters' changes after Mt. Pinatubo eruption has been carried out at the stationary lidar station of the Stepanov Institute of Physics, Belarus National Academy of Sciences (Minsk, 53.85/spl deg/N, 27.5/spl deg/E). The stratospheric laser sounding was performed at the wavelengths of 532 and 1064 nm. The depolarization degree of reflected signals was measured at the wavelength of 532 nm. The combined observations performed have enabled The authors to obtain data on changes in the microstructure of stratospheric aerosols during their transformations to the background state.

We present the dynamics of stratospheric aerosol characteristics after the Mt.Pinatubo eruption. Measurements were carried out with a lidar, which has been operating at 532 and 1064 mm wavelengths. An approach to the processing of two-wavelength polarization sounding data is presented. Altitude-temporal dependence contours of the aerosol backscatter ratio, the ratio of aerosol backscatter coefficients at two wavelengths, and the aerosol linear depolarization ratio are given. Possible temporal transformations of the stratospheric aerosol microstructure characteristics that cause the changes in optical parameters are discussed.