The development of a lidar receiver for remote measurements of atmospheric temperature profiles with the rotational Raman method is described. By a new receiver concept, this instrument allowed for the first time remote temperature measurements without any perturbation by the presence of clouds up to a backscatter ratio of 45. In addition, high efficiency of the spectral separation of atmospheric backscatter signals leads to improved measurement resolution: The minimum integration time needed for a statistical uncertainty of < +/- 1 K at, e.g., 10 km height and 960 m height resolution is only 5 minutes. The measurement range extends to over 45 km altitude. Results of field campaigns obtained with the instrument are presented and discussed. In winter 1997/98, the instrument was transferred with the GKSS Raman lidar to Esrango (67.9 deg N, 21.1 deg E), northern Sweden. Pioneering remote measurements of local temperatures in orographically induced polar stratospheric clouds could be carried out.

More information is available at http://www.kurasc.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~behrendt/.

Email: behrendt@kurasc.kyoto-u.ac.jp