Signal penetration into thick clouds studied by multi-layer data observed with a micro-pulse lidar

Lidar return signals are studied for a micro-pulse lidar under sky conditions with multi-layer clouds. From theoretical considerations on the lidar signal-to-noise ratio, it is estimated that the maximum cloud optical thickness detectable is about 3.7. This result reasonably agrees with the actual multi-layer cloud data obtained from observations in Sukhothai, Thailand. Deviations from theoretical prediction, however, are found for a geometrically thin but dense cloud, and for a moderately concentrated but geometrically thick cloud. The effect of multiple scattering is also discussed.