Resonant lidar measurements of calcium and sodium atoms and calcium ions have been made from 1982 to 1987 at the Observatoire de Haute Provence. An average value of the column atomic calcium abundance of 2.7¿107 cm-2 has been measured, and it is 120 times lower than the corresponding sodium abundance. No systematic seasonal variation of the atomic calcium abundance can be deduced from the measurements. Average density profiles of these two species are also compared for each season. For the calcium ions, two different types of profiles have been identified. Diffuse Ca+ layers are centered around 94 km and constitute the background ionic calcium layer. Denser and narrower layers, presenting strong short time scale variations, are centered in the 95- to 115-km altitude range. Comparisons are made between Ca and Ca+ density profiles determined by lidar measurements and through other techniques, such as mass spectrometry. Finally, the relative abundance in the atmosphere and in meteorites of these two metallic species, Ca and Na, are briefly discussed. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1989