Measurement of average atmospheric temperature using a CO_2 laser radar

A single-ended CO(2) lidar system has been used to measure the average temperature over a path between the lidar and the foothills located 5 km away. The CO(2) lidar was used to measure the ratio of transmission of the P(38) to the P(20) lines in the 10-microm band of CO(2). This ratio of transmission is directly related to temperature. Good correlation was obtained between the lidar-measured temperature and the thermometermeasured values.