Calibration of 1064 nm channel of LITE using playa surface returns

The Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment (LITE), the first NASA spaceborne atmospheric lidar, yielded data on atmospheric aerosols and surface reflectance. The IR 1064 nm channel did not have a sufficiently strong Rayleigh backscatter to enable calibration off the molecular atmosphere as did the 532 nm and 355 nm channels, so surface returns were considered for calibrating the IR channel. The uses of LITE surface returns have been investigated with related laser altimeter measurements from the Race Track playa in Death Valley, CA. The LITE surface returns from Rodgers dry lake are compared with previous measurements. The two approaches adopted in calibrating the IR channel are described. The effects of errors introduced by the lidar system, correlative optical depth measurements and surface reflectance measurements and modeling are considered to obtain the 1064 nm channel final calibration error margin using both reflectance approaches. The basic lidar relationships are reviewed, and the error dependencies in the lidar equation are discussed as they apply to the LITE surface returns.