Method for removal of LIDAR background backscattering by subtraction of multiple-delayed return signal

A multiple-delayed light detecting and ranging (LIDAR) pulse signal processor system for receiving and processing a plurality of LIDAR return pulses transmitted from a LIDAR transmitter for recovering a very weak atmospheric turbulence feature of interest by removing the 1/R.sup.2 variation of the background aerosol backscattering of each LIDAR pulse by the homogeneous atmosphere so that the background signal is effectively constant with range;

• said system comprising:
• a LIDAR receiver comprised of a detector for detecting each LIDAR return pulse from the atmosphere and a preamplifier that amplifies said LIDAR return pulse;
• a multiple-delayed LIDAR pulse signal processor comprised of a plurality of separate delay lines and a plurality of summing amplifiers for dividing each LIDAR return pulse into a multiple of delayed pulses which are identical to said LIDAR return pulse but each having a different delay time wherein said multiple of delayed pulses are summed in pairs by said plurality of summing amplifiers until there is a single output signal in which the 1/R.sup.2 variation of the background aerosol backscattering of each LIDAR pulse is removed and said single output signal is amplified by a large gain amplifier to recover said very weak atmospheric feature of interest;
• and
• display means for showing amplified weak atmospheric turbulence feature of interest with said 1/R.sup.2 variation of background backscattering sufficiently suppressed that the weak atmospheric turbulence feature of interest may be detected from very close range to infinity for analyzing and determining the position of the source causing said atmospheric turbulence feature of interest.