Retrieving aerosol backscatter coefficient using coherent Doppler wind lidar

Coherent Doppler wind lidar (CDWL) has been widely used for wind detection, but retrieving aerosol optical properties remains challenging, due to its high sensitivity to turbulence and beam focusing. This study comprehensively evaluates the capabilities and limitations of pulsed CDWL in retrieving aerosol backscatter/extinction coefficient profiles, with a special focus on calibration and error analysis. A self-calibration method for the telescope focus function is proposed and validated through horizontal observations. Both forward and backward retrieval approaches are reviewed, with and without auxiliary co-located measurements. Key sources of uncertainty, including the carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR), heterodyne efficiency, lidar constant, and assumed lidar ratio, are analyzed. It’s indicated that maintaining a controlled system environment is important for achieving a stable heterodyne efficiency profile.