Laser remote sensing of atmospheric ammonia using a CO2 lidar system

A CO2 differential-absorption lidar system has been used for the remote sensing of ammonia in the atmosphere. For CO2 lidar returns backscattered from topographic targets at ranges up to 2.7 km, the path-averaged sensitivity of the DIAL system was 5 ppb of NH3 . Concentrations of atmospheric ammonia were found to vary during the day from undetectable levels (<5 ppb) to as high as 20 ppb, depending on temperature and humidity conditions.