Low and optically thin cloud measurements using a Raman-Mie lidar.

We analyze the potential of measuring low-altitude optically thin clouds with a Raman-elastic lidar in the daytime. Optical depths of low clouds are derived by two separate methods from nitrogen Raman and elastic-scattering returns. By correcting for aerosol influences with the combined Raman-elastic returns, Mie retrievals of low-cloud optical depth can be dramatically improved and show good agreement with the direct Raman retrievals.