Aerosol classification method based on high spectral resolution lidar

Aerosols play a key role in climate change and air quality. The quantitative analysis of aerosol's contribution relies on accurate measurements of aerosol optical properties and their vertical profiles. The High Spectral Resolution Lidar(HSRL) has the capability of spectrally discriminating molecular backscatter from aerosol backscatter by a narrow-band optical filter. Therefore aerosol extinction coefficient and aerosol backscatter coefficient can be retrieved independently without assumption of the aerosol lidar ratio.The research on aerosol classification method was conducted based on HSRL technique in this paper. According to published results of aerosol classification, a classification method based on aerosol optical properties was given and an aerosol classification look-up table was provided accordingly. Aerosol extinction coefficient, aerosol backscatter coefficient and depolarization ratio measured by HSRL in Qingdao during the spring of 2015 were used to classify aerosol types referring to the established aerosol classification look-up table. The results are consistent with the trajectory model HYSPLIT and aerosol analysis system NAAPS. Results of case studies demonstrate the method in this paper is capable to identify different aerosol types properly.