Lidar system for depolarization ratio measurements: development and preliminary results

Atmospheric depolarization lidar measurements are used to distinguish the solid from the liquid phase of water in clouds and fogs, to study the size distribution of ice crystals and the multiple-scattered contribution to the total energy received. The experimental set-up and preliminary depolarization ratio measurements together with the discussion on the theoretical approach are presented. Water vapor profiles have been performed too, to understand the water motion into the hydrologic cycle.