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A method of background noise reduction in lidar data

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Abstract

This paper applies a theoretical approach to the calculation of background noise levels during the analysis of lidar (light detection and ranging) data. We develop a method for the identification of background noise concealed within lidar signals under clear atmospheric or homogeneous aerosol layer conditions and derive an equation for the calculation of these noise levels from a theoretical consideration of the lidar equation. An increasing range-corrected signal indicates that a large amount of background noise exist in the return signal. We calculate the level of background noise by selecting three equidistant points in the return signal from the homogeneous layer and inputting the range and intensity of these points into the derived equation. Background noise calculations using actual lidar signals were in good agreement with calculations based on a simulated lidar signal. The background noise equation was verified using both observational lidar data and a simulated signal, indicating that it provides a reasonable measure of background noise levels in lidar data.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Nature Science Foundation of China under Project 41175033/D0503 and by the Chinese Public Welfare Industry Special Project GYHY 201006047-5.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Atmospheric Physics, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China

    Nianwen Cao, Cunxiong Zhu & Yangfeng Kai

  2. Center for Atmosphere Watch and Services, CMA, Beijing, 100081, China

    Peng Yan

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  1. Nianwen Cao
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  2. Cunxiong Zhu
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  3. Yangfeng Kai
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  4. Peng Yan
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Correspondence to Nianwen Cao.

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Cao, N., Zhu, C., Kai, Y. et al. A method of background noise reduction in lidar data. Appl. Phys. B 113, 115–123 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-013-5447-9

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