The use of 1572 nm Mie LiDAR for observation of the optical properties of aerosols over Wuhan, China

•We made a Mie LiDAR operated at 1572 nm for aerosol and cloud observation.•This work can serve as a ground data support for CO2 spaceborne remote sensing.•The LiDAR ratio of 1572 nm is calculated in Wuhan, China.•The LiDAR and passive instruments worked together to ensure the correctness.

CO2 is a major component of greenhouse gases. When CO2 concentration is measured by satellites, calibration of the lower atmosphere becomes an essential procedure. Since the 1572 nm infrared region is widely used in remote sensing of CO2, we constructed a Mie LiDAR system, designed to work at 1572 nm, for measuring the optical properties of aerosols in the lower troposphere. Based on the particle size distribution measured by the heliograph, the LiDAR ratio is independently determined for Wuhan, China. The LiDAR echo signal is then processed by the Fernald method to calculate the extinction coefficient on both clear and cloudy days. The maximum detection height is restricted by the low laser energy and quantum efficiency of the Photomultiplier Tube (PMT) used. Moreover, a simplified method for detecting the position of clouds is presented and this method is verified using a variety of passive radiation instruments that offer partial support for calibrating and verifying LiDAR data. The observed results indicate that this LiDAR system could be a reliable source of data support for the spaceborne remote sensing of CO2.