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Abstract A new analytic solution to the lidar equation is presented, which realistically considers the scattering properties of the aerosols and the molecular atmosphere individually. With this solution, it is shown, in turbid atmospheres where the aerosols dominate the scattering properties, that accurate vertical profiles of the volume extinction cross section can be obtained with an uncalibrated lidar, provided that the total transmittance of the atmospheric layer being investigated is known. This solution is applied to data samples collected under very clear and under very dusty conditions.
Fernald et al. (1972) studied this question.