Atmospheric Thermodynamic Profiling through the Use of a Micro-Pulse Raman Lidar System: Introducing the Compact...

Area of Science:

• Atmospheric Science
• Optical Remote Sensing
• Laser Spectroscopy

Background:

• Historically, micro-pulse lidar systems were limited to elastic backscatter due to laser power constraints.
• Raman lidar applications for thermodynamic profiling were previously considered infeasible with micro-pulse lasers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the feasibility of micro-pulse laser-based Raman lidars for atmospheric thermodynamic profiling.
• To illustrate the high performance of these systems, particularly for water vapor measurements.
• To detail the technical solutions and implementation in a prototype lidar system.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing advanced micro-pulse lasers with high UV average power (1-5 W) and low divergence (0.3-0.5 mrad).
• Employing large aperture telescopes (0.3-0.4 m diameter primary mirrors).
• Developing and testing a prototype micro-pulse Raman lidar system.

Main Results:

• Successful measurement of vertical profiles of atmospheric thermodynamic parameters (water vapor, temperature).
• Demonstrated capability for both day and night-time measurements.
• High performance achieved in water vapor profile measurements.

Conclusions:

• Micro-pulse laser-based Raman lidars are now feasible for atmospheric thermodynamic profiling.
• Technological advancements have overcome previous limitations, enabling new applications.
• The developed lidar system shows significant potential for accurate water vapor and temperature monitoring.