Pollution Monitoring Using Nd:YAG Based Lidar Systems

Abstract

Laser-radar techniques for remote measurements of atmospheric and hydrospheric conditions, especially pollution levels, are becoming increasingly important. Recently we have reviewed different aspects of laser remote sensing^1,2. A program of laser-based pollution monitoring was initiated in 1975 within our research group at Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg. A lidar system employing a 25 cm diameter Newtonian telescope and a dye laser (flashlamp- or N₂-laser-pumped) was constructed. A specially designed microcomputer was used for transient averaging and system steering. The system was used for technique developments, and several field tests on air-pollution monitoring and hydrospheric probing were performed. The lidar system and examples of atmospheric particle, NO₂ and SO₂ monitoring are presented in Ref. 3, which also contains references to more detailed laboratory reports.