Method for reconstructing atmospheric optical parameters from the data of polarization lidar sensing.

Inversion of polarization lidar sensing data based on the form of the lidar sensing equation with allowance for contributions from multiple-scattering calls for a priori information on the scattering phase matrix. In the present study the parameters of the Stokes vectors for various propagation media, including those with the scattering phase matrices that vary along the measuring range, are investigated. It is demonstrated that, in spaceborne lidar sensing, a simple parameterization of the multiple-scattering contribution is applicable and the polarization signal's characteristics depend mainly on the lidar and depolarization ratios, whereas differences in the angular dependences of the matrix components are no longer determining factors. An algorithm for simultaneous reconstruction of the profiles of the backscattering coefficient and depolarization and lidar ratios in an inhomogeneous medium is suggested. Specific features of the methods are analyzed for the examples of interpretation of lidar signal profiles calculated by the Monte Carlo method and are measured experimentally.