Lidar/photometer techniques for desert and volcanic dust profiling: Retrieval of particle optical and microphysical properties

Abstract

Different lidar/photometer methods are now available which allow us to derive optical and microphysical properties of irregularly shaped aerosol particles such as desert or volcanic dust aerosol particles. The advantage and limits of the different techniques are illuminated. The use of the polarization lidar is of advantage because no critical assumptions such as the spheroidal particle model are required in the data analysis. © Sociedad Española de Óptica.