Multi-wave differential absorption lidar

A system comprising:

• illumination and light collection optics configured to illuminate a targeted region of interest and receive backscattered light from the targeted region of interest;
• a differential absorption light detection and ranging (“DIAL”) sub-system, the DIAL sub-system comprising:
• a first illuminator configured to emit light through the illumination and light collection optics at a first wavelength corresponding to a first absorption peak in an absorption curve of a first analyte of interest;
• a second illuminator configured to emit light through the illumination and light collection optics at a second wavelength corresponding to a first absorption trough in the absorption curve of the first analyte of interest, wherein the second wavelength is adjacent to the first wavelength;
• and
• a first photodetector configured to measure an intensity of backscattered light at the first wavelength and an intensity of backscattered light at the second wavelength;
• and
• a controller configured to determine, based on a differential between the intensity of the backscattered light at the first wavelength and the intensity of the backscattered light at the second wavelength, a concentration of the first analyte of interest in the targeted region of interest.