LAUSR

This Letter presents an experimental demonstration of a vertical differential image motion (DIM) lidar for calculating the profiles of the low‐layer atmospheric refractive index structure parameters. Utilizing the differences between weighting functions, we propose a convenient approach for the real‐time estimation of low‐layer C n 2 ${{\rm{C}}}_{n}^{2}$ profiles from DIM lidar data. This approach only requires returned fluxes as input, yet it has the intrinsic ability to capture real‐time turbulence profiles. Validations against the collected observational data have shown this approach to be computationally inexpensive. The long‐term comparisons with micro‐thermometers indicate that in such a way vertical DIM lidars can be used for providing not only a general assessment of turbulence effects along the measurement path but turbulence profiles.