Observation of the double sodium layer over Haikou,China by Lidar

A Double Sodium Layer (DSL) structure was observed during the night of August 22, 2011 over Haikou, China (20°N, 110°E) by Na lidar. This DSL comprised a typical sodium layer at altitudes of 80~105km and a higher sodium layer at altitudes of 105~115km in about 0.5 h. A wavelength of 589nm dye laser pumped by a Nd: YAG laser was used to make the measurement. The backscattered fluorescence photons from the sodium layer were collected by a telescope with a primary mirror of 1000mm in diameter. The sodium density of these layers during the nighttime observation in the Mesosphere and Lower-Thermosphere (MLT) was studied.