Deconvolution filtering of ground-based LIDAR returns from tropospheric aerosols

Abstract

A deconvolution filtering model of multiple scattering in ground-based single field of view (SFOV) LIDAR returns is described. It is based on time series deconvolution techniques. The contribution of multiply scattered photons in SFOV LIDAR returns can be numerically modeled by processing LIDAR signals without additional information about aerosol properties and measurement geometry. Deconvolution results are in good agreement with those performed by Monte Carlo calculations, showing that the significance of multiply scattered photons is strongly correlated with aerosol concentration. It is found that, for ground-based LIDAR, the contribution of multiply scattered photons to LIDAR signals is typically below 5% in a clear urban atmosphere, and up to 14% in a very dirty urban atmosphere in Hong Kong during winter seasons.