Atmospheric visibility measurement by a modulated cw lidar

Area of Science:

• Atmospheric Science
• Optical Remote Sensing
• Laser Technology

Background:

• Accurate measurement of atmospheric visibility is crucial for various applications, including aviation and meteorology.
• Existing remote sensing techniques for visibility may have limitations in certain conditions or require complex instrumentation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel modulated continuous-wave (cw) lidar system for remote sensing of atmospheric visibility.
• To analyze the system's response, establish optimal design parameters, and compare its capabilities with existing methods.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a low-power, amplitude-modulated continuous-wave (cw) laser transmitted via a telescope.
• Collected and focused backscattered light onto a detector.
• Employed a phase discriminator to analyze the return signal's phase relative to the source.

Main Results:

• The phase of the backscattered signal is directly correlated with atmospheric visibility.
• Established optimal design parameters for the modulated cw lidar system.
• Demonstrated theoretical capabilities and compared them with previous lidar systems.

Conclusions:

• The modulated cw lidar technique provides a viable method for remote atmospheric visibility sensing.
• The system's phase-based measurement offers a direct relationship to visibility.
• This technique represents a potentially valuable advancement in atmospheric monitoring tools.