Research on atmospheric temperature fine measurements from the near surface to 60 km altitude based on an integrated lidar system

Abstract. Accurate measurement of atmospheric temperature profiles from the surface to the stratosphere is crucial for understanding atmospheric dynamics and climate processes. Traditional methods, such as the use of radiosondes, are limited in spatial and temporal coverage. To address this challenge, a dual-field, integrated lidar system was developed based on the principles of pure rotational Raman scattering and Rayleigh scattering principles to precisely detect atmospheric temperatures in both the troposphere and stratosphere from the near surface to 60 km altitude. The system utilized a 532 nm pulsed laser with 200 mJ and 50 Hz, utilizing a dual-field-of-view (DFOV) setup to receive atmospheric backscatter signals. Pure rotational Raman signals from 5–30 km and Rayleigh signals from 30–60 km are collected using a 800 mm aperture telescope, while a smaller 200 mm aperture telescope receives pure rotational Raman signals below 5 km. By combining these signals, the system derives continuous temperature profiles from the surface to 60 km using a single lidar system. The observed temperature data were compared with simultaneous radiosonde and atmospheric model data. Below 16 km, the lidar-derived temperatures exhibited strong agreement with radiosonde data, with a correlation coefficient of 0.95 and a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 3.2 K. Between 30 and 60 km, lidar-derived temperatures were also in strong agreement with model data, achieving a correlation coefficient of 0.88. These continuous temperature profiles will support the study of fluctuation phenomena in the middle and upper atmosphere, particularly when integrated with high-altitude observations from sodium fluorescence Doppler lidar operating at 80–105 km in future studies. This integrated lidar system serves as a critical tool for achieving continuous atmospheric measurement across multiple layers, contributing significantly to atmospheric science and remote sensing applications.