A lidar system for measuring atmospheric pressure and temperature profiles

198746 citationsJournal Article

Authors

Geary K. Schwemmer · Goddard Space Flight Center

Mark Dombrowski · Goddard Space Flight Center

C. Laurence Korb · Goddard Space Flight Center

J. Milrod · Goddard Space Flight Center

H. Walden · Goddard Space Flight Center

Robert H. Kagann · Goddard Space Flight Center

Abstract

The design and operation of a differential absorption lidar (LIght Detection And Ranging) system capable of remotely measuring the vertical structure of tropospheric pressure and temperature are described. The measurements are based on the absorption by atmospheric oxygen of the spectrally narrowband output of two pulsed alexandrite lasers. Detailed laser output spectral characteristics, which are critical to successful lidar measurements, are presented. Spectral linewidths of 0.026 and 0.018 cm−1 for the lasers were measured with over 99.99% of the energy contained in three longitudinal modes.

Topics & Keywords

Spectroscopy and Laser Applications Laser Design and Applications Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Affordable and clean energy

Publication Details

Published in: Review of Scientific Instruments

Volume 58, Issue 12, pp. 2226-2237

DOI: 10.1063/1.1139327

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 2.58