Differential absorption lidar (DIAL) measurements from air and space

The technology and applications of the differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technique have progressed significantly since the first DIAL measurements of Schotland [1], and airborne DIAL measurements of ozone and water vapor are frequently being made in a wide range of field experiments. In addition, plans are underway to develop DIAL systems for use on satellites for continuous global measurements. This paper will highlight the history of airborne lidar and DIAL systems, summarize the major accomplishments of the NASA Langley DIAL program, and discuss specifications and goals for DIAL systems in space. Received: 2 April 1998     

差分吸收激光雷达回波信号统计模型的研究

差分吸收激光雷达回波信号统计模型是研究差分吸收激光雷达系统的基础,但是现有的统计模型中均没有考虑大气湍流导致的激光闪烁对回波信号的影响。针对已有统计模型的缺陷和应用需要,综合考虑了大气湍流导致的激光闪烁、目标反射斑纹、接收噪声以及发射功率波动对回波信号统计特性的影响,提出了一种改进的长程差分吸收激光雷达回波信号统计模型,分析了该模型的统计特性。仿真结果表明大气湍流导致的激光闪烁对回波信号统计特性的影响十分显著,同时也验证了该统计模型比已有统计模型更精确、更符合实际。     

Laser remote sensing and photoacoustic spectrometry applied in air pollution investigation

We have applied two spectroscopic techniques in order to investigate air pollution dispersion in real and simulated atmosphere: the Titan–Sapphire laser technique based on differential absorption lidar (DIAL), and CO₂ laser photoacoustic spectrometry (LPS). A set of spatial NO₂ measurements was performed over a highway outside a city and in an urban street canyon with extensive traffic. Qualitative agreement was found between the results obtained by DIAL and by physical modeling based on LPS measurements in a wind tunnel.     

Experimental and theoretical studies related to a dye laser differential lidar system for the determination of atmospheric So2 and NO2 concentrations

Laboratory measurements of the absorption coefficients of NO₂ at wavelengths suitable for the operation of differential absorption lidar (DIAL) systems, at around 446 nm and 489 nm are reported. Such measurements are necessary for the valid determination of absolute levels of concentration of NO₂ in the atmosphere and have been made in order to assess anomalies in existing data. A theoretical assessment of some of the optional systems currently available for the application of DIAL to the measurement of atmospheric concentrations of SO₂ is described.     

国外差分吸收激光雷达探测大气水汽廓线的研究进展

水汽含量是大气最基本的物理参量之一,大气水汽垂直分布结构对于大气过程的研究十分有意义。差分吸收激光雷达可以昼夜获取高精度、高距离分辨率的大气水汽垂直分布廓线,是最有潜力的探测手段。国际上已经发展出几种类型的差分吸收激光雷达,对它们的发展路径做一梳理,理清发展脉络,具有有益的参考价值。其中,稍早时期水汽差分吸收激光雷达工作在4ν振动吸收带720～730 nm频域,以Alexandrite为主流的激光器或者Nd∶YAG/ruby固体激光器泵浦的染料激光器作为发射光源,光电倍增管仍然可以在这个波段担任探测器,代表性的仪器是法国的机载LEANDRE Ⅱ。此后发展的820 nm波段的水汽差分吸收激光雷达,以钛宝石激光器或钛宝石光放大器为发射机,以硅的雪崩二极管作为探测器,紧跟前置放大和数据的AD采集器,如德国Hohenheim大学的车载扫描激光雷达,可以获得对流层300～4 000 m之间水汽两维或三维分布结构;德国Institutfür Meteorologie und Klimaforschung所建立的差分吸收激光雷达可以探测3～12 km高度之间大气的水汽垂直分布。720和820 nm波段水汽吸收截面较小,更适合于地基或车载的对流层水汽廓线探测。而水汽3ν振动谱935 nm区域吸收截面较大,是为了空间探测大气对流层上、平流层下相对干燥区域的水汽分布而准备的,且可以安排多个探测波长,和一个参考波长,它们对水汽的吸收截面大小呈梯度分布,以应对空间对地观测时不同高度大气水汽浓度的差别。基于种子注入的光参量振荡器或Nd∶YGG全固态激光器的935 nm差分吸收激光雷达,以德国Deutsches Zentrumfür Luft- und Raumfahrt的研究最为成功,推动了欧洲空间局立项发展空间水汽差分吸收激光雷达WALES（Water Vapour Lidar Experiment in Space）,测量从地球表面到平流层下、高垂直分辨率和高精度水汽浓度分布。机载多波长水汽差分吸收激光雷达1999年建立起来,担当空间WALES任务的模拟器,2006年完成了机载飞行试验。以823～830 nm分布布拉格反射半导体激光器和半导体光放大器为核心、采用雪崩二极管盖格光子计数技术的微脉冲差分吸收激光雷达,是差分吸收激光雷达面向商业化、可普及的方向迈出的重要一步,目前已经发展到第四代产品。发射机激光工作波长的长期稳定十分重要而棘手,以窄带连续波种子激光注入脉冲激光器的谐振腔锁定其的腔长,种子激光的波长以水汽的多通道光吸收池为参照标准,或以高精度波长计为误差获取手段,通过负反馈进行主动稳频;其次,需要仔细考虑大气对激光的后向散射光谱线型,显然Rayleigh后向散射光的多普勒展宽与水汽吸收光谱线宽度可以比拟,所以其吸收截面σ_on和σ_off必需加以修正;水汽的空间垂直分布梯度大,因此差分吸收激光雷达应该实行分通道探测。     

New method of elaboration of the lidar signal

In lidar measurements noise and fluctuations strongly affect the results. The reason is a rapid decrease of the signal-to-noise ratio with an increase of distance. The differential absorption lidar (DIAL) is particularly sensitive to the signal instabilities. In this paper we present a method of the signal acquisition that is suitable for registration of both large light fluxes and single photons. We also present new method of solution of the DIAL equations. Compared to the traditional algorithm used for signal elaboration our procedures are much more stable and they are able to increase the effective range of lidar measurements. Received: 2 February 1999 / Revised version: 30 June 1999 / Published online: 16 September 1999     

Intercomparison of ozone profiles measurements by a differential absorption lidar system and satellite instruments at Buenos Aires, Argentina

A ground-based DIfferential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) system has been implemented at CEILAP (CITEFA-CONICET) laboratory (34°33′S, 58°30′W), located in the Buenos Aires industrial suburbs. The goal is to perform measurements of the stratospheric ozone layer. Systematic measurements of ozone concentration profiles from 18 to 35 km altitude are performed since early 1999. Our measurements are carried out in 5 h in average during the night and in cloudless conditions. The DIAL system allows us to calculate directly the ozone profile from the lidar backscattering radiation since it is a self-calibrating technique. The signal processing takes into account the influence of the temperature profile on the ozone cross section. The temperature data are obtained from the radiosondes measurements performed at Ezeiza International Airport (34°30′S, 58°18′W), 27 km from DIAL station. The evolution of the stratospheric ozone profile is studied for different months. Results are compared with the data obtained by different satellites SAGE II, HALOE and GOME. The comparisons between our DIAL system and the satellite measurements show an agreement better than 20% for 20–35 km altitude range.     

AML-1车载式大气污染监测激光雷达样机研制

针对环境监测工作的迫切需要,开发研制了我国第一台车载式大气污染监测激光雷达。它具有测量范围大,距离分辨率高、数据可靠、灵敏度高等特点,并通过驱动单元能进行空间三维探测。该雷达系统能监测四种大气污染物,即大气气溶胶、二氧化硫、二氧化氮和臭氧。大气二氧化硫、二氧化氮、臭氧的最高探测灵敏度分别为0．01mg／m^3、0．04mg／m^3、0．01mg／m^3,气溶胶的消光系数探测限为10^-4km^-1,最高探测空间分辨力为7．5m,最大探测距离为3～10km。介绍了其基本原理,关键技术和运行情况。     

Preliminary results from the ozone lidar at the University of L''aquila

Summary We describe the ozone lidar operated at the Department of Physics of the University of L'Aquila. Preliminary ozone profiles obtained with the DIAL (differential absorption lidar) technique are also reported and a comparison is made with ECC (electro chemical cell) sonde data obtained at the FISBAT, CNR in Bologna. Although this comparison is of limited value the two sets of data show a good agreement. The influence of the recent detected volcanic aerosols from the eruption of Pinatubo on these measurements is also discussed.     

A new algorithm for simultaneous ozone and aerosol retrieval from tropospheric DIAL measurements

Aerosols can introduce significant errors in measurements of trace gas concentration profiles with differential absorption lidar (DIAL). Here, a solution to counteract the aerosol effect is introduced, which does not depend on additional measurements and is applicable when absorption at the off-wavelength is not negligible. It is based on a numerical solution of the coupled lidar equations and calculates the trace-gas concentration and the aerosol backscatter ratio simultaneously. Consequently, most of the errors introduced by aerosols to DIAL measurements are inherently corrected and, additionally, the aerosol backscatter profiles at the DIAL wavelengths are obtained. Received: 23 December 2002 / Revised version: 24 March 2003 / Published online: 14 May 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +49-331/288-2178, E-mail: fimmler@awi-bremerhaven.de Present address: AWI Bremerhaven, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany     

噪音信号对夜间对流层臭氧探测准确度的影响

本文探讨在背景噪音影响下,差分吸收激光雷达测量臭氧的不确定性:背景噪音对臭氧浓度廓线的影响正比于背景噪音强度、强吸收波长和弱吸收波长的回波信号强度比.理论计算结果表明:合适的回波信号强度比可以使激光雷达背景信号对夜间臭氧探测浓度的影响变得非常小,可以忽略不计.实验结果表明:用波长对(280 nm,285 nm)对大气臭氧进行观测时,适当调节两波长回波信号强度比为0.96时,背景信号对臭氧浓度探测的影响小到可以忽略的程度.模拟分析和实验观测结果相接近,证实了理论推算的合理性.在背景噪音强度未知的情况下,通过调整强吸收和弱吸收两波长的激光脉冲的能量,在示波器上得到适合的回波信号强度比值,可以抑制背景噪音信号对臭氧探测结果的影响,确保夜间臭氧测量的准确性.     

Ground-based monitoring of pinatubo aerosols and ozone at L''Aquila, Italy I.—Evidences for ozone depletion during 1991/92 winter months

Summary Possible evidence for stratospheric ozone depletion at northern midlatitudes as a consequence of the Pinatubo aerosol cloud is presented in this work. A ten-month record of aerosol and ozone measurements taken at the lidar station of L'Aquila, Italy, is compared to the 1985–1986 SBUV and SAGE II ozone data. Ozonesonde data collected in the station of Hohenpeissenberg, Germany, and S. Pietro Capofiume, Italy, are used to validate the DIAL measurements corrected for the aerosol presence.     

水汽探测拉曼激光雷达的新型光谱分光系统设计与分析

提出并设计了一套新型的大气水汽和气溶胶探测用紫外域拉曼激光雷达系统, 以二向色镜和超窄带滤光片构成高效率拉曼光谱分光系统, 实现激光雷达大气回波信号中米-瑞利散射信号、 氮气和水汽的振动拉曼散射信号的精细分离和高效率提取. 利用美国标准大气的分子散射模型和实测的大气米散射信号模型, 对分光系统的米-瑞利散射信号的抑制率、大气水汽测量的信噪比和误差进行数值仿真设计. 搭建实验系统对西安地区夜间的大气水汽进行实验观测, 并利用有云天气下实测的激光雷达回波信号, 反演获得大气后向散射比和水汽混合比的相关特性, 验证了该拉曼光谱分光系统对米-瑞利信号的抑制率达到10^-7以上量级. 理论和实验结果表明, 设计的新型拉曼光谱分光系统可以在大气后向散射比为17时, 实现水汽探测误差小于15%, 满足拉曼激光雷达系统对大气水汽的高效率探测. 关键词： 拉曼激光雷达 水汽混合比 大气后向散射比     

New UV tunable solid-state lasers for lidar applications

We present the first lidar/DIAL system based on an Ultra Violet (UV) vibronic laser. A Nd:YAG-pumped Ce:LiSAF laser has been developed for this purpose, providing high pulse energy (5 mJ at 10 Hz), very high slope efficiency (33%), and a tuning range from 284 to 299 nm. Simultaneous measurements of SO₂ and O₃ concentration profiles are presented using this frequency-agile Ce:LiSAF-based lidar system.     

Water vapor differential absorption lidar measurements using a diode-pumped all-solid-state laser at 935 nm

A diode-pumped, single-frequency laser system emitting at 935 nm has recently been developed to serve as the transmitter for water vapor differential absorption lidar (DIAL) measurements. This laser uses Nd:YGG (Y₃Ga₅O₁₂) as the active medium and emits radiation directly at 935 nm without the need of additional frequency conversion processes. The system was diode-pumped at 806 nm and was built up in a master-oscillator-power-amplifier configuration. It generates more than 30 mJ of pulse energy at 100 Hz repetition rate with a beam quality (M ²) of better than 1.4. Since water vapor DIAL demands for stringent requirements of the spectral properties those were carefully investigated in the scope of this paper. Single-frequency operation is achieved by injection seeding and active length control of the oscillator cavity. The range of continuously tunable single-frequency radiation extends to ～0.4 nm centered around 935.31 nm. Values of the spectral purity of >99.996% were determined using long-pass absorption measurements in the atmosphere exceeding the requirements by a large margin. Finally, for the first time water vapor DIAL measurements were performed using a Nd:YGG laser. The reported results show much promise of these directly pumped lasers at 935 nm for future spaceborne but also airborne water vapor lidar systems.     

Novel algorithm for simultaneously detecting multiple vapor materials with multiple-wavelength differential absorption lidar

Differential absorption lidar (DIAL) has been successfully used to detect vapor material, however limited to detect single vapor using two closely spaced wavelengths. The progress in multiple-wavelength lasers motivates the need for detection and estimation algorithms that have the capability for simultaneous detection of multiple materials. In this paper, a simple and accurate algorithm is presented for simultaneously detecting and estimating multiple vapor materials with multiple-wavelength DIAL, which based on the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) methodology. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated by simulation experiments, the results show that this algorithm can separately identify and quantify vapor material in mixtures and perform quite well.     

Measurement of tropospheric O3, SO2 and aerosol from a volcanic emission event using new multi-wavelength differential-absorption lidar techniques

We present measurements of tropospheric O₃, SO₂ and aerosol from a volcanic emission event using new multi-wavelength differential absorption lidar (DIAL) techniques that enable us to remove the mutual effects between O₃ and SO₂ from the raw measurements. The aerosol extinction coefficient is retrieved directly from the lidar return signal at the “off” wavelength and is used to estimate aerosol effects on O₃ and SO₂measurements. Null error, statistical error, and absorption cross-section error are also analyzed. The O₃ and SO₂ concentrations at height between 1000 m and 2000 m for a volcanic event on September 10, 2001 were about 20 ppb and 10–35 ppb, respectively, with an error less than 10 ppb. The measured SO₂ concentration was much higher than the normal SO₂ background value (∼1 ppb) in the troposphere. We also measured O₃ concentrations from 13 December 2000 to 06 January 2001 and investigated O₃ diurnal variation during a 24-hour period on November 24, 2000. A high O₃ concentration of about 250 ppb was observed in late December 2000. PACS 42.68.Wt; 42.68.Kh; 42.68.Jg     

相干多普勒测风激光雷达低信噪比区域回波信号的估计方法

相干多普勒测风激光雷达通常会采用周期图最大值法（PM）提取不同距离门信号的多普勒频移（对应风速）信息。由于噪声和相干效率的影响,个别距离门信号会出现信噪比（SNR）突然降低的情况,从而导致系统的探测概率降低,影响系统整体的探测性能。为了解决个别距离门信号多普勒频移的错误估计问题,提出了一种新的非线性自适应多普勒频移估计方法。该方法利用风速的连续性,标定错误距离门,并自适应地利用强信噪比区域的多普勒频移统计数据来弥补信噪比变差而出现的估计错误。分别利用了仿真模型和一套1.54μm全光纤相干激光雷达系统获得了风场测量数据,对比了使用该技术前后反演得到的风速趋势,证明该方法能够有效地解决上述问题。     

Lidar dynamic range compression by using a membrane mirror light shutter

A lidar system employing a membrane mirror light shutter, MMLS, for dynamic range compression is demonstrated in this paper. The use of the MMLS allows the dynamic range of the lidar to be compressed by more than 2 orders of magnitude and, at the same time, the strong near-field optical return is avoided. Important parameters for an MMLS used in lidar are described and their measurements in a lidar configuration are presented. The decompression in the lidar data retrieval caused by using the MMLS is discussed.     

Multi-component chemical analysis of gas mixtures using a continuously tuneable lidar system

Differential absorption lidar (DIAL) measurements are usually made on single compounds by alternately switching the wavelength between on and off a resonance line. The selection of more than two wavelengths is a mathematical necessity for simultaneous measurement of multiple species or for resolving interference effects between a compound of interest and a background gas such as water vapour or carbon dioxide. This is especially true in the mid-IR region, where many hydrocarbon compounds have important spectral features. We present a method for remote measurement of gas mixtures in the mid-IR region based on a newly developed fast-switching, frequency-agile optical parametric oscillator lidar transmitter. A multivariate statistical procedure has also been applied for this system, which combines a genetic algorithm for wavelength selection with a partial least squares method for identifying individual compounds from their combined absorption spectrum. A calibration transfer is performed for compounds of interest using reference spectra from an absorption spectra database. Both indoor absorption cell measurements and outdoor remote range resolved measurements of hydrocarbon mixtures were performed to explore the performance of the method. PACS 42.62 Fi; 42.79 Qx; 02.50 Sk