White-light filaments for multiparameter analysis of cloud microphysics

Abstract

We present a lidar technique using femtosecond-terawatt laser pulses to perform a multiparameter analysis of cloud microphysics. Particle size and density within the cloud are deduced from the multispectral multiple scattering pattern of an ultrashort laser pulse. Furthermore, the spectral analysis of the atmospheric transmission of the white-light continuum from the same laser source yields temperature and relative humidity.