General purpose Doppler LiDAR for validation and space

International Conference on Space Optics (ICSO), pp. 61

Abstract

We demonstrate that a spectral lidar based on the technology of VAHCOLI (Vertical And Horizontal COverage by Lidar) is capable of obtaining Doppler wind measurements from Mie scattering with 100 times higher altitude resolution in the troposphere/stratosphere compared to Aeolus. Enhanced sensitivity for aerosols and the additional capability to resolve the Doppler broadening of Mie scattering is achieved by combining a Fourier transform limited Alexandrite laser with a more complex method derived from spectroscopy. VAHCOLI demonstrates the capability of a network of advanced general-purpose spectroscopic Doppler lidars to monitor the atmosphere from the troposphere to the thermosphere obtaining Doppler Mie, Doppler Rayleigh and Doppler resonance measurements out of a compact 1x1x1 m3 system. Within the follow-on project, EULIAA (EUropean LIdar Array for Atmospheric climate monitoring) this technology is further improved and applied at a deep Fraunhofer line in the UV allowing solar blind measurements of Rayleigh scattering out of a system of reduced size. The goal of EULIAA is the demonstration of 24/7 measurements in hart-to-reach environments, including real-time data processing for databases such as Copernicus. In addition, we are working to transfer the technology of VAHCOLI to the industry, with the objective of deploying networks of these lidars in the future at a higher TRL level.

Authors 6

1. Josef Höffner

   Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Rostock University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leibniz-Institut für Atmosphärenphysik e.V. (Germany)

2. Jan Froh

   Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Rostock University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leibniz-Institut für Atmosphärenphysik e.V. (Germany)

3. Thorben Mense

   Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Rostock University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leibniz-Institut für Atmosphärenphysik e.V. (Germany)

4. Alexander Munk
5. Gerd Baumgarten

   Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Rostock University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leibniz-Institut für Atmosphärenphysik e.V. (Germany)

6. Michael Strotkamp Aachen Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik

   Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik (Germany)