Laser radar (lidar) is an excellent remote monitoring method for obtaining spatial resolved information of the atmosphere. This paper consists of the followings : 1) an outline of the principle in laser radar measurement and types of laser radars, 2) laser radar systems, and 3) measurements of typical phenomena in air pollution and air-pollution related meteorology, using three laser radar systems (a mobile Mie-scattering laser radar, a large laser radar and a differential absorption lidar (DIAL)) at National Institute for Environmental Studies. Described phenomena cover aerosol dispersion of a stack plume, NO2, concentration distribution in a plume, temporal and spatial structures of atmospheric boundary layer using an aerosol distribution as an indicator, and wide-area pollution map. In addition, data processing of image data of wide-area pollution is described.
by Nobuo Takeuchi