MEASUREMENTS OF STRATOSPHERIC AEROSOLS IN RÍO GALLEGOS (51º 55’S, 69º 14’W), ARGENTINA. METHODOLOGY AND FIRST RESULTS.

SALVADOR JACOBO O, ELIAN WOLFRAM, RAUL DELIA, BOYAN TATAROV, HIDEAKI NAKANE, EDUARDO QUEL.

Reviewed and Revised Papers Presented at the 24th International Laser Radar Conference

Committee of the 24th International Laser Radar Conference

Lugar: Boulder; Año: 2008; p. 871 - 874

As a part of environmental studies in the southern hemisphere, the CEILAP Lidar Division with the financial support of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and the collaboration with IPSL, France mounted a ground based remote sensing site at Río Gallegos city (51º 36’S, 69º 19’W), at southern part of South America for the measurements of stratospheric ozone, tropospheric aerosols and water vapour with lidar remote sensing techniques. During 2005-2006, the SOLAR (Stratospheric Ozone Lidar of ARgentina) Campaign was carried out, giving the opportunity to measure the evolution of stratospheric ozone profiles and the influence of polar vortex overpass over southern part of Argentina. As a part of the acquired signals during the SOLAR campaign and with the objective of increasing the obtainment of the other parameters, the CEILAP’s Lidar group performed a retrieval program to obtain the amount of stratospheric aerosols between 17-35 km of altitude focusing on  determination of Aerosol Backscattering Ratio derived from lidar data at 355 nm and monitoring the load of aerosols during September – December 2006 period (southern spring). A set of 11 measurements and the methodology  are reported.