A system for simultaneous optical pathlength determination and remote chemical sensing of a sample disposed along an optical path. A modulated laser source configured for modulated light emission so that at least one spectral sideband with a sideband frequency is created, the modulated light emission is directed along the optical path and sideband frequency is varied over time. A detector is configured to detect transmitted light along the optical path and generate a detected light intensity signal. A frequency down-converter is configured to receive the detected light emission signal and generate a frequency down-converted light intensity signal. A demodulator is configured to demodulate the frequency of the down-converted light intensity signal and output an instantaneous frequency. A pathlength calculator is configured to determine an optical pathlength to the sample based on the instantaneous frequency. A frequency down-converted light intensity signal is simultaneously output for spectroscopic chemical sensing.