Boundary layer divergences are calculated from a sequence of images of the inhomogeneities in aerosol backscattering observed with volume imaging lidar. Two-dimensional spatial cross correlations are calculated between successive horizontal plane images, 10 km¿5 km, which are interpolated from the lidar returns. The image at the first time represents the actual aerosol pattern. An assumed divergence is included in the interpolation of the second image. The divergence is determined by calculating correlations for a matrix of assumed divergences and selecting that value which optimizes the correlation. The results from this process are consistent with predictions for divergence over the spatial scale measured, and the apparent resolution of the results agrees with the image resolution. A higher pulse-rate volume imaging lidar system would allow for increased image resolution and increased image area, both of which should improve the resolution in the divergence measurements. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1995