We analyze the intensity-modulation frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) technique for lidar remote sensing in the context of its application to distributed media. The goal of the technique is the reproduction of the sounded-medium profile along the emission path. A conceptual analysis is carried out to show the problems the basic version of the method presents for this application. The principal point is the appearance of a bandpass filtering effect, which seems to hinder its use in this context. A modified version of the technique is proposed to overcome this problem. A number of computer simulations confirm the ability of the modified FMCW technique to sound distributed media.

Results of lidar modeling based on spatial-angular filtering efficiency criteria are presented. Their analysis shows that the low spatial-angular filtering efficiency of traditional visible and near-infrared systems is an important cause of low signal/background-radiation ratio (SBR) at the photodetector input. The low SBR may be responsible for considerable measurement errors and ensuing the low accuracy of the retrieval of atmospheric optical parameters. As shown, the most effective protection against sky background radiation for groundbased biaxial lidars is the modifying of their angular field according to a spatial-angular filtering efficiency criterion. Some effective approaches to achieve a high filtering efficiency for the receiving system optimization are discussed.

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