LIDAR TECHNOLOGY
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The LIDAR is an active remote sensor using a laser as an emitter. A short laser light pulse is emitted into the atmosphere where it encounters scattering by atmospheric particles and molecules along the line of sight. A part of this radiation is scattered backward and collected onto the LIDAR reception system constituted of an opto-electronic device. The optical signal is then translated into a voltage against time and distance by multiplication of the speed of light. By calibrating the optical signal an accurate range dependent profile of backscattered light is obtained.