Open AccessDemonstration of a combined differential absorption and high spectral resolution lidar for profiling atmospheric temperature
Author(s) -
Robert A. Stillwell,
Scott M. Spuler,
Matthew Hayman,
Kevin S. Repasky,
Catharine E. Bunn
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.379804
Subject(s) - dial , lidar , radiosonde , water vapor , environmental science , remote sensing , atmospheric optics , backscatter (email) , materials science , atmospheric temperature , temperature measurement , optics , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , physics , geology , telecommunications , quantum mechanics , computer science , acoustics , wireless
This work presents the first demonstration of atmospheric temperature measurement using the differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technique. While DIAL is routinely used to measure atmospheric gases such as ozone and water vapor, almost no success has been found in using DIAL to measure atmospheric temperature. Attempts to measure temperature using a well-mixed gas like oxygen (O 2 ) have largely failed based on a need for quantitative ancillary measurements of water vapor and atmospheric aerosols. Here, a lidar is described and demonstrated that simultaneously measures O 2 absorption, water vapor number density, and aerosol backscatter ratio. This combination of measurements allows for the first measurements of atmospheric temperature with useful accuracy. DIAL temperature measurements are presented to an altitude of 4 km with 225 m and 30 min resolution with accuracy better than 3 K. DIAL temperature data is compared to a co-located Raman lidar system and radiosondes to evaluate the system's performance. Finally, an analysis of current performance characteristics is presented, which highlights pathways for future improvement of this proof-of-concept instrument.