Anthony Notari

Backscatter 2-

A 2-μm backscatter lidar system has been developed by utilizing tunable pulsed laser and infrared phototransistor for the transmitter and the receiver, respectively. To validate the system, the 2-μm atmospheric backscatter profiles were compared to profiles obtained at 1 and 0.5 μm using avalanche photodiode and photomultiplier tube, respectively. Consequently, a methodology is proposed to compare the performance of different lidar systems operating at different wavelengths through various detection technologies. The methodology is based on extracting the system equivalent detectivity and comparing it to that of the detectors, as well as the ideal background detectivity. Besides, the 2-μm system capability for atmospheric CO2 temporal profiling using the differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technique was demonstrated. This was achieved by tuning the laser at slightly different wavelengths around the CO2 R22 absorption line in the 2.05-μm band. CO2 temporal profiles were also compared to in situ measurements. Preliminary results indicated average mixing ratios close to 390 ppm in the atmospheric boundary layer with 3.0% precision. The development of this system is an initial step for developing a high-resolution, high-precision direct-detection atmospheric CO2 DIAL system. A successful development of this system would be a valuable tool in obtaining and validating global atmospheric CO2 measurements.

\mu\hbox{m}

Abstract The Lidar Atmospheric Sensing Experiment (LASE) on board the NASA DC-8 measured high-resolution profiles of water vapor and aerosols, and cloud distributions in 14 flights over the eastern North Atlantic during the NASA African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses (NAMMA) field experiment. These measurements were used to study African easterly waves (AEWs), tropical cyclones (TCs), and the Saharan air layer (SAL). These LASE measurements represent the first simultaneous water vapor and aerosol lidar measurements to study the SAL and its interactions with AEWs and TCs. Three case studies were selected for detailed analysis: (i) a stratified SAL, with fine structure and layering (unlike a well-mixed SAL), (ii) a SAL with high relative humidity (RH), and (iii) an AEW surrounded by SAL dry air intrusions. Profile measurements of aerosol scattering ratios, aerosol extinction coefficients, aerosol optical thickness, water vapor mixing ratios, RH, and temperature are presented to illustrate their characte...

Lidar Validation for Atmospheric

Measurements of water vapor profiles over the Southern Great Plains acquired by two different lidars are presented. NASAs airborne DIAL Lidar Atmospheric Sensing Experiment (LASE) system measured water vapor, aerosol, and cloud profiles during the ARM/FIRE Water Vapor Experiment (AFWEX) in November-December 2000 and during the International H2O Project (IHOP) in May-June 2002. LASE measurements acquired during AFWEX are used to characterize upper troposphere water vapor measured by ground-based Raman lidars, radiosondes, and in situ aircraft sensors. LASE measurements acquired during IHOP are being used to better understand the influence water vapor variability on the initiation of deep convection and to improve the quantification and prediction of precipitation associated with these storms. The automated Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Southern Great Plains (SGP) Cloud and Radiation Testbed (CART) Raman Lidar (CARL) has been routinely measuring profiles of water vapor mixing ratio, relative humidity, aerosol extinction, aerosol backscattering, and aerosol and cloud depolarization during both daytime and nighttime operations. Aerosol and water vapor profiles acquired since March 1998 are used to investigate the seasonal variability of the vertical distributions of water vapor and aerosols.