Extinction measurements with low-power hsrl systems—error limits

Abstract

HSRL measurements of extinction are more difficult than backscatter measurements. This is particularly true for low-power, eye-safe systems. This paper looks at error sources that currently provide an error limit of ~10-5 m-1 for boundary layer extinction measurements made with University of Wisconsin HSRL systems. These eye-safe systems typically use ~300mW transmitters and 40 cm diameter receivers with a 10-4 radian field-of-view.