Abstract
Detection of atoms and molecules using laser spectroscopy is substantially an active sensing method, and can be applied for the detection of minor contents of the atmosphere. This report reviews remote sensing of atmospheric gas constituents using various kinds of laser spectroscopic techniques, such as absorption, fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy. The spatial distribution of a specific constituent can be determined using the laser radar (lidar) technique. The long-path absorption method or differential absorption lidar (DIAL) is the most useful technique to measure various kinds of molecules related to the global environmental problems, such as ozone, H2O, SO2, NO2, and many other molecules with their absorption bands in the infrared region. Application of nonlinear Raman spectroscopy to the remote sensing of atmospheric constituents is briefly discussed.
