How atmospheric lidar grew up [Invited]

The history of atmospheric lidar is reviewed from its first demonstration in 1963 to its current uses as a key technology for monitoring global climate change and air quality and for enhancing aviation safety and wind power development. The advances in lidar technology by an international community of researchers are described, along with the concurrent advances in lidar's enabling technologies. The exploration of dozens of capabilities and applications by the community is described, but this review stresses the handful of lidar types that proved to be cost effective and thereby survived the test of time. Some equations and diagrams are included to elucidate the unique set of engineering challenges and constraints inherent in the technique.