ASSESSMENT OF CAPABILITIES OF LIDAR SYSTEMS IN DAY- AND NIGHT- TIME UNDER DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERIC AND INTERNAL-NOISE CONDITIONS.

As an application of the dimensionless parameterization concept proposed earlier for the characterization of lidar systems, the universal assessment of lidar capabilities in day and night conditions is considered. The dimensionless parameters encapsulate the atmospheric conditions, the lidar optical and optoelectronic characteristics, including the photodetector internal noise, and the sky background radiation. Approaches to ensure immunity of the lidar system to external background radiation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]