The attenuated backscatter ratio indicates the locations of scattering objects; the intensity provides information about the optical thickness of the corresponding layers. Cloud bases are usually well marked by the strong gradients. However, the cloud vertical extent cannot be analysed straightforwardly. Additionally, rainshafts are marked by medium to strong vertically extending regions.
For the analysis of aerosol particles, the same graph for the lower troposphere is shown with a focus on low backscatter values, as the aerosol particles are characterised by substantially smaller signals given their smaller size.
