The algorithm of microphysical parameter profiles of aerosol and small cloud droplets based on the dual wavelength Lidar data

This study proposed an inversion method of atmosphere aerosol or cloud microphysical parameters based on dual wavelength lidar data. The matching characteristics between aerosol/cloud particle size distribution and Gamma distribution were studied using aircraft observation data. The feasibility of particle effective radius retrieval from lidar ratio and backscatter ratio was simulated and studied. A method for inverting the effective radius and number concentration of atmospheric aerosols or small cloud droplets using backscatter ratio was proposed, and the error sources and applicability of the algorithm were analyzed. This algorithm was suitable for the inversion of uniformly mixed and single property aerosol layers or small cloud droplets. Compared with the previous study, this algorithm could quickly obtain the microphysical parameters of atmosphere particles and has good robustness. For aerosol particles, the inversion range that this algorithm can achieve was 0.3–1.7 μm. For cloud droplets, it was 1.0–10 μm. An atmosphere observation experiment was conducted using the multi-wavelength lidar developed by Xi'an University of Technology, and a thin cloud formation process was captured. The microphysical parameters of aerosol and cloud during this process were retrieved. The results clearly demonstrate the growth of effective radius and number concentration.