Diode-laser-seeded optical parametric oscillator for airborne water vapor DIAL application in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere

Received: 4 May 1998/Revised version: 17 July 1998     

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     

Detection of small forest fires by lidar

The possibility of detecting small forest fires with the help of a simple and cheap lidar operating at 0.532-μm wavelength up to distances of about 6.5 km is demonstrated. The values of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) achieved in the experiments are consistent with theoretical estimations obtained by computational modeling of the lidar detection process, including simulation of the smoke-plume shape and of the laser beam–plume interaction. This model was used to assess the potential of the lidar technique for fire surveillance in large forest areas. In particular, the upper limiting range for effective detection (SNR>5) of small localized fires in dry- and clear-weather conditions is estimated at 7–15 km depending on operation mode, burning rate, and observation geometry. Received: 29 August 2001 / Published online: 29 November 2001     

Application of lidar in ultraviolet,visible and infrared ranges for early forest fire detection

The efficiencies of direct lidars operating at 355, 532, 1064 and 1540-nm radiation wavelengths for early forest fire detection were compared. For each wavelength, the range for reliable smoke-plume detection was estimated on the basis of a computer simulation plume using a one-dimensional “top-hat” gas dynamic model for the calculation of the backscattering and extinction-coefficient profiles within the plume. The agreement between the predicted signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and experimental results for 532 and 1064-nm wavelength radiation is good. The decrease of the signal-to-noise ratio with distance is maximum for 355 nm and minimum for 1064 nm. At 1540 nm, the decay of SNR with distance is slightly faster, but the SNR is higher than for other wavelengths, leading to the highest detection efficiency for the same energy of the probing laser pulse. For a burning rate of 2 kg/s and a laser beam divergence of 2.5 mr, the maximum distance for reliable detection varies between 6 and 12 km, depending on the wavelength. Received: 15 May 2002 / Revised version: 13 September 2002 / Published online: 22 January 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +351-21/841-8120, E-mail: rui.vilar@ist.utl.pt     

Raman lidar for the study of liquid water and water vapor in the troposphere

A Raman lidar system based on a tripled Nd:YAG laser is used for profiling of water vapor and liquid water in the troposphere. The Raman signals from water in the gas and liquid state are separated by interference filters and their relative intensities are studied for different atmospheric conditions. For clean weather or immediately after the rain the Raman signal from liquid water inside PBL is about one order of magnitude lower than the signal from water vapor. But during cloud measurements both Raman signals become comparable and the results of water vapor measurements must be corrected for the interference of liquid water Raman scattering. The obtained results are used for the estimation of liquid water content in the atmosphere. Received: 4 October 1999 / Revised version: 18 February 2000 / Published online: 11 May 2000     

Analysis of lidar measurements using nonparametric kernel regression methods

The lidar technique is an efficient tool for remote monitoring of the distribution of a number of atmospheric species. We study measurements of sulphur dioxide emitted from the Italian volcano Mt. Etna. This study is focused on the treatment of data and on the procedure to evaluate range-resolved concentrations. In order to make an in-depth analysis, the lidar system was prepared to store measurements of individual backscattered laser pulses. Utilizing these repeated measurements a comparison of three different methods to average the returned signals is made. In the evaluation process we use local polynomial regression to estimate the range-resolved concentrations. Here we calculate optimal bandwidths based on the empirical-bias bandwidth selector. We also compare two different variance estimators for the path-integrated curves: local polynomial variance estimation and variance estimation based on Taylor approximations. Results show that the method performs well. An advantage compared to previous methods for evaluation of lidar measurements is that an estimate of the mean squared error of the estimated concentration can be calculated. Received: 9 July 2001 / Revised version: 15 November 2001 / Published online: 17 January 2002     

The airborne multi-wavelength water vapor differential absorption lidar WALES: system design and performance

A high-performance airborne water vapor differential absorption lidar has been developed during the past years. This system uses a four-wavelength/three-absorption line measurement scheme in the 935 nm H₂O absorption band to cover the whole troposphere and lower stratosphere simultaneously. Additional high spectral resolution aerosol and depolarization channels allow precise aerosol characterization. This system is intended to demonstrate a future space-borne instrument. For the first time, it realizes an output power of up to 12 W at a high wall-plug efficiency using diode-pumped solid-state lasers and nonlinear conversion techniques. Special attention was given to a rugged optical layout. This paper describes the system layout and technical realization. Key performance parameters are given for the different subsystems.     

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     

Development of a SNR parameterization scheme for general lidar assessment

We present a general methodology for evaluating the capabilities of a general lidar system encompassing both backscatter (elastic and Raman lidar) and topographic targets. By introducing a well-defined atmospheric reference medium and by individually examining and decomposing the contributions of lidar system parameters including lidar transmitter power, field of view, receiver noise, atmospheric conditions, and sky background on the signal-to-noise ratio, we obtain a simple dimensionless parameterization of the lidar system. Using this parameterization, numerical simulations are carried out to determine achievable lidar performance including operation range, minimum detectable gas concentration, and so on.This revised version was published online in August 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Estimation of required parameters for detection of small smoke plumes by lidar at 1.54 μm

Parameters of eyesafe lidar at 1.54 μm for detection of small plumes of smoke from burning wood or oil have been evaluated. It was assumed that a diode-pumped solid-state Er:glass laser at 1.54 μm or a Nd:YAG laser with a Raman cell or optical-parametric oscillator is used as a light source and that detection of backscattered light is performed with an avalanche photodiode. Ash and soot particle size distributions were taken from experiments. A backscattering coefficient at 1.54 μm for various source of smoke was estimated. In computing the laser energy, range between lidar and smoke, receiver optics diameter, fuel mass burned in unit time, fire source radius, laser pulse duration and visibility were varied. Results of the computations enabled estimation of the required laser energy, which ranges from 0.05 to 1400 mJ depending on the parameters. Received: 5 January 2000 / Revised version: 3 March 2000 / Published online: 11 May 2000     

LIDAR mapping of ozone-episode dynamics in Paris and intercomparison with spot analyzers Supplementary material available at http://link.springer.de/journals/apb

Continuous mapping of an ozone episode in Paris in June 1999 has been performed using a differential absorption lidar system. The 2D ozone concentration vertical maps recorded over 33 h at the Champ de Mars are compiled in a video clip that gives access to local photochemical dynamics with unprecedented precision. The lidar data are compared over the whole period with point monitors located at 0-, 50-, and 300-m altitudes on the Eiffel Tower. Very good agreement is found when spatial resolution, acquisition time, and required concentration accuracy are optimized. Sensitivity to these parameters for successful intercomparison in urban areas is discussed. Received: 11 February 2002 / Published online: 14 March 2002     

A Scanning Multi-Axis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy System for Measurement of Tropospheric NO2 in Beijing

A scanning multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy （DOAS） system is developed for monitoring tropospheric NO2 abundance. Measurements at different viewing angles near the horizon can be performed sequentially with one telescope collecting scattered sunlight reflected by a moving mirror. Tropospheric NO2 diurnal variations can be derived from slant column densities （SCDs） of different elevation angles. The result from a field campaign in Beijing in summer of 2005 reveals potential possibility for the monitoring of tropospheric NO2 by multi-axis DOAS technique.     

Plasma-based nitrogen tail pulse shutter for CO2-TEA lidar dial systems

This paper presents the construction, use and characterisation of a laser-induced sealed plasma shutter to clip off the nitrogen pulse tail of a CO₂-TEA laser-based lidar dial system. Investigation of the optimum gas filling pressure, temporal profile of the clipped pulse, and the laser threshold power intensities to achieve ionisation growth and breakdown in helium, argon, and nitrogen are also presented. Values of these power density thresholds lie between 3×10¹¹ W cm^-2–5×10¹² W cm^-2, 2×10¹¹ W cm^-2–2×10¹² W cm^-2 and 3×10¹³ W cm^-2–2×10¹⁴ W cm^-2 for helium, argon, and nitrogen, respectively. The range resolution attainable with the present clipped pulses is 15 m, which is 30 times better than that readily obtained with the nitrogen-tailed pulses. Field measurements of the lidar returns with the clipped pulse from a co-operative target are presented. Received: 27 December 1999 / Revised version: 11 February 2000 / Published online: 27 April 2000     

An incoherent Doppler lidar for ground-based atmospheric wind profiling

Received: 17 April 1996/Revised version: 7 October 1996     

Multiply scattered component of lidar returns

The results of statistical simulation of the spatiotemporal structure of the multiply scattered component of lidar returns by the Monte Carlo method are discussed for the case of monostatic sensing geometry. The spatial characteristics of the region of the medium where occurs the last scattering of photon before arriving at the reciever. This region of the medium is called the instantaneous brightness body of multiply scattered radiation. It is demonstrated that the instantaneous brightness body of multiply scattered radiation that propagates toward the receiver may occupy a large volume that does not necessarily coincide with the region of formation of the singly scattered component. The main factors influencing the spatial and brightness characteristics of this volume source are established. The effect of scattering order on the spatiotemporal structure of lidar returns is analyzed for the case of sensing of aerosol haze and advective and radiative fogs with optical thickness 2<τ<8. Received: 2 August 2001 / Revised version: 7 January 2002 / Published online: 25 September 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +7-38/2225-8026, E-mail: belov@iao.ru     

The LITE correlative measurements campaign in southern Italy: preliminary results

A,355 and R_A,532); the two data sets appearing to be highly correlated. LITE vs. Potenza LIDAR measurements of R_A,355 and R_A,532 display a correlation coefficient of 0.72 and 0.86, respectively. Stratospheric aerosol dimensional characteristics are determined starting from the measured values of the ?ngstrom coefficient. Received: 24 May 1996/Revised version: 8 October 1996     

Atmospheric CW-FM-LD-RR ladar for trace-constituent detection: a concept development

We formulate a general framework for simultaneous remote ranging and spectral selection of trace constituents by an appropriate use of frequency modulation combined with mixing and filtering. A theoretical model of a spectroscopic continuous-wave, frequency-modulated, laser-diode-based range-resolving (CW-FM-LD-RR) ladar is developed for the expected echo signal modulated by the nonlinear absorption. Relationships between the heterodyne echo-signal amplitudes and frequencies and trace-gas concentration for each range are analyzed. Features of the echo-signal inversion and its calibration are studied. It is analytically shown that, by suitable processing, the range-dependent concentration profile of the absorbing gas can be extracted.     

Fourier-wavelet regularized deconvolution (ForWaRD) for lidar systems based on TEA-CO2 laser

Lidar is an efficient tool for remotely measuring physical quantities or detecting targets. To improve the range resolution in long pulse lidars, such as lidar systems based on TEA-CO₂ lasers, deconvolution methods were used by previous investigators. Deconvolution is a noise sensitive process. In order to avoid noise amplification during the deconvolution process, the Fourier-wavelet regularized deconvolution method is used to deconvolve and denoise the back-scattered lidar signal simultaneously. This method is applied to lidar systems based on the TEA-CO₂ laser and the results are compared to nitrogen tail clipping method. Numerical simulation shows, in comparison to the clipping nitrogen tail technique, by using the ForWaRD method; the range resolution and working distance of the lidar is improved and the clipping tail apparatus is also eliminated.