New lidar technology using solid state lasers and detectors has revolutionized atmospheric research. Micro pulse lidar (MPL) systems are now widely used for monitoring clouds and aerosols, providing accurate vertical distribution data crucial for understanding atmospheric radiation. These systems are safe, reliable, and can operate continuously for years. An airborne lidar system has been successfully deployed for cloud remote sensing, combining lidar with passive sensing technologies. NASA's upcoming GLAS mission will use lidar to observe atmospheric structure from space, focusing on monitoring polar ice sheets.