Resonant absorption of first-overtone (FO) CO laser radiation
by atmospheric water vapor and various organic and nonorganic
pollutants is discussed. Suitable ro-vibrational lines
are selected for their potential use in traditional spectroscopic
schemes of atmospheric pollution diagnostics. Nonlinear
atmospheric absorption of intense multiline FO CO laser
radiation is simulated and laser-induced changes in absorption
spectra are demonstrated. Absorption coefficients of a
few substances on several FO CO ro-vibrational lines are
experimentally measured. A comparative analysis of spectral
characteristics of an FO CO laser and an HF (DF) laser
demonstrates that the potential of FO CO laser applications
for spectroscopic detection of various molecular trace
gases is greater than that of HF and DF lasers.