Lidar Observations of Middle Atmospheric Density and Temperature Over Qingdao

The structure and performance of CRIRP (China Research Institute of Radiowave Propagation) Rayleigh backscattering lidar are introduced, the principles to derive middle atmospheric density and temperature are described, and the primary results observed over Qingdao are reported. The lidar observed temperatures are validated through comparison with a variety of observational and model data provided by satellite, radiosonde and CIRA86 respectively. The mean and seasonal variation of middle atmospheric temperature profiles is given, based on the observational data during 2008-2009. The lidar results show that stratospheric temperature over Qingdao is higher than the CIRA86 model, and that the difference is small in summer and autumn, and large in winter and spring, while the mesospheric temperature trend is opposite.