Dr. Gelsomina Pappalardo

Istituto di Metodologie per l’Analisi Ambientale IMAA- CNR, Italy
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Atmospheric aerosols influence atmospheric optical properties depending on their amount, size and composition. In particular, tropospheric aerosols play a very crucial role in the climate system; their interaction with direct solar radiation and earth infrared radiation may strongly affect the terrestrial energy budget. Lidar techniques represent a very powerful tool to study atmospheric aerosols. In particular, the Raman lidar technique allows independent measurements of the aerosol backscatter and extinction coefficients. Because of its capability to provide information with very high spatial and temporal resolution, lidar can be used to study the dynamic of the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL). PBL is the lower layer of the atmosphere feeling the effect of the Earth’s surface and controlling the flow of heat and momentum between the surface and the free atmosphere. Aerosols tend to be trapped within the PBL and can be used as tracers for the study of the boundary layer vertical structure and time variability. Suitable lidar networks can provide information about aerosol vertical, horizontal, and temporal distribution and long range transport and deposition.