Regularized algorithm for Raman lidar data processing.

A regularized algorithm that has the potential to improve the quality of Raman lidar data processing is presented. Compared to the conventional scheme, the proposed algorithm has the advantage, which results from the fact that it is based on a well-posed procedure. That is, the profile of the aerosol backscatter coefficient is computed directly, using the explicit relationships, without numerical differentiation. Thereafter, the profile of the lidar ratio is retrieved as a regularized solution of a first-kind Volterra integral equation. Once these two steps have been completed, the profile of the aerosol extinction coefficient is computed by a straightforward multiplication. The numerical simulations demonstrated that the proposed algorithm provides good accuracy and resolution of aerosol profile retrievals. The error analysis showed that the retrieved profiles are continuous functions of the measurement errors and of the a priori information uncertainties.