Open field testing of mid IR DIAL for remote detection of thiodiglycol vapor plumes in the topographic target configuration

•Highly sensitive tunable mid-infrared differential absorption lidar (DIAL) for remote detection of thiodiglycol (TDG) vapor plumes is developed.•Infrared absorption spectrum of TDG is recorded using FTIR and lidar setup.•Detected the thiodiglycol vapor plumes up to a distance of about 950 m.•Daytime measurements of thiodiglycol column content varied from 10 ppm × m to 200 ppm × m.