Properly interpreting lidar (light detection and ranging) signal for characterizing particle distribution relies on a key parameter,${\mathrm{\chi <\#comment/>}}_p(\mathrm{\pi <\#comment/>})$, which relates the particulate volume scattering function (VSF) at 180° (${\mathrm{\beta <\#comment/>}}_p(\mathrm{\pi <\#comment/>})$) that a lidar measures to the particulate backscattering coefficient ($b_{\mathit{\text{bp}}}$). However,${\mathrm{\chi <\#comment/>}}_p(\mathrm{\pi <\#comment/>})$has been seldom studied due to challenges in accurately measuring${\mathrm{\beta <\#comment/>}}_p(\mathrm{\pi <\#comment/>})$and$b_{\mathit{\text{bp}}}$concurrently in the field. In this study,${\mathrm{\chi <\#comment/>}}_p(\mathrm{\pi <\#comment/>})$, as well as its spectral dependence, was re-examined using the VSFs measuredin situat high angular resolution in a wide range of waters.${\mathrm{\beta <\#comment/>}}_p(\mathrm{\pi <\#comment/>})$, while not measured directly, was inferred using a physically sound, well-validated VSF-inversion method. The effects of particle shape and internal structure on the inversion were tested using three inversion kernels consisting of phase functions computed for particles that are assumed as homogenous sphere, homogenous asymmetric hexahedra, or coated sphere. The reconstructed VSFs using any of the three kernels agreed well with the measured VSFs with a mean percentage difference$<<\#comment/>5\mathrm{\%<\#comment/>}$at scattering angles$<<\#comment/>{170}^{\circ <\#comment/>}$. At angles immediately near or equal to 180°, the reconstructed