Open AccessShallow Angle Wave Profiling Lidar
Author(s) -
M.R. Belmont,
J.M.K. Horwood,
R.W.F. Thurley,
John Baker
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of atmospheric and oceanic technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.774
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1520-0426
pISSN - 0739-0572
DOI - 10.1175/jtech2032.1
Subject(s) - lidar , remote sensing , geology , elevation (ballistics) , metrology , geodesy , profiling (computer programming) , range (aeronautics) , image resolution , ranging , optics , acoustics , physics , computer science , materials science , astronomy , composite material , operating system
A lidar scanning system is described that is primarily designed to measure sea wave shape. The device is capable of measuring real-time spatial profiles over distances of hundreds of meters, and as the lidar must inevitably operate from modest elevations (e.g., from a vessel’s masthead), it is inherently a very shallow angle metrology device. This results in a highly nonuniform distribution of the wave elevation values. The vertical and horizontal resolution is primarily set by the characteristics of the optical system employed and range/data capacity is set by signal-to-noise ratio considerations. Illustrative data are presented as consecutive profiles taken 0.2 s apart for highly trochoidal waves under conditions where the height was recorded to ±0.03 m and horizontal sample separation to ±0.025 m. A comparison is presented with traditional wave staff measurements.