Pre-filter analysis for retrieval of microphysical particle parameters: a quality-assurance method applied to 3 backscatter (β) +2 extinction (α) optical data taken with HSRL/Raman lidar.

We analyze the solution space of 3+2 optical data inferred from lidar measurements, i.e., backscatter coefficients at three wavelengths and extinction coefficients at two wavelengths.

Characterization of smoke and dust episode over West Africa: comparison of MERRA-2 modeling with multiwavelength Mie-Raman lidar observations.

Observations of multiwavelength Mie-Raman lidar taken during the SHADOW field campaign are used to analyze a smoke-dust episode over West Africa on 24-27 December 2015. For the case considered, the dust layer extended from the ground up to approximately 2000 m while the elevated smoke layer occurred in the 2500-4000 m range. The profiles of lidar measured backscattering, extinction coefficients, and depolarization ratios are compared with the vertical distribution of aerosol parameters provided by the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2).