Abstract
A high-spectral-resolution lidar (HSRL) method independently retrieves of aerosol extinction profile
from aerosol backscatter profile by separately measuring the atmospheric molecular (Rayleigh) scattering
from aerosol (Mie) scattering. We used spectrally narrow band lasers as a light source and such
high-spectral-resolution filters such as absorption vapor filters and interferometric filters to separate
Rayleigh and Mie scattering. A wide variety of combinations of light sources and spectral filters has
been studied for almost 40 years. This paper outlines the history of HSRL development as well as the
concept of HSRL methods for the retrieval of aerosol extinction and backscatter. We also introduce a
simple HSRL method using a scanning interferometer recently developed at the National Institute for
Environmental Studies.
