Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD) for High-Resolution Lidar Extinction Backscatter and Depolarization ratio (A-EBD ATBD)

This document describes the Lidar only Extinction, Backscatter and Depolarization L2a algorithm developed within the ATLAS project. This algorithm outputs high horizontal (approx 1-km) and vertical (approx 100 m) resolution profiles of lidar extinction, backscatter, optical depth and particle type. The relationship between this algorithm and other algorithms developed within ATLAS is shown in Figure 1. This document presents theoretical background of the algorithm (Section 3) as well as describing practical implementation aspects such as inputs (Section 5.1), outputs (Section 5.3) and algorithm structure (Section 5.3.2). Examples applications of the algorithm are given in Section 6 and an overview of the status of the algorithm is given in Section 7.