Feasibility of determining concentrations of atmospheric pollutants by comparative absorption using lasers having a single emission line

A method of determining the concentrations of various gases in the atmosphere from their absorption of laser radiation is proposed. Absolute values of the pollution concentrations in the atmosphere can be determined from relative measurements of the received signal power utilizing the spectral inhomogeneity of the absorption by the gas under study within the line width of the probe laser radiation and introducing an additional known frequency distortion in the radiation transmitted by the atmosphere.