The spatial intensity distribution of 8.9‐GHz longitudinal ultrasonic pulses propagating along the trigonal axis of LiNbO3has been measured between 80° and 475°K by means of Brillouin scattering. The absolute attenuation coefficient &Ggr; varied from 8±1 dB/cm at 80°K to 31±2 dB/cm at 475°K. Above 150°K, the attenuation could be fitted by &Ggr;=0.53T0.66dB/cm. Examples are given of other applications of the scattering technique.