Research on the Relationship between Cloud Temperature and Optical Depth Using Rotational and Vibrational Raman Lidar

Clouds play a key role in the climate system, for they can result in a warming or a cooling effect according to their characteristics and altitudes. Raman Lidars have been proven to be a very useful remote sensing tool to characterize cloud properties and locations. In this paper, cloud temperature and optical depth are obtained using rotational Raman (RR) and vibrational Raman techniques. Results of cloud temperature and optical depth (OD) observed by the Hampton University (HU) Rotational-Vibrational Raman Lidar are presented. The paper discusses the influence of cloud OD on temperature of the cloud base and top. From these measurements, the relation of low-altitude cloud OD and temperature is summarized. These analyses are unique in that they combine simultaneous measurements of these quantities that can lead to an improvement in the understanding of cloud radiation transfer and effects.