Investigation of clouds spatial distribution using ground-based lidar

Abstract

Certain investigations of spatial distribution of clouds by employing ground based lidar are presented. The great changeability is one of the main properties of the clouds in the boundary layer. As a result, their optical properties change rapidly which complicates the modeling of cloud evolution. Suitable equipped lidars are widely used for diagnostics of the clouds via a number of scattering and absorption processes. In particular, lidar can provide information on the distribution of meteorological parameters and of the other important cloud characteristics both in vertical and horizontal directions. Herein the time and spatial distribution of the aerosol backscattering coefficient of S sub t and S sub c type clouds are investigated by means of a correlation analysis of the lidar obtained data provided from several arbitrary directions and heights.