Research

Speaker: Scott Spuler - NCAR/RSF

This presentation delves into the innovative strides made by the EOL lidar group in developing a laser remote sensing technology for continuous thermodynamic profiling of the lower atmosphere. The need for national-scale ground-based profiling networks with high-vertical-resolution thermodynamic profiles has guided our technological approach, emphasizing the practical advantages of semiconductor lasers. These lasers, known for their cost-effectiveness, compact design, simplicity, and broad spectral coverage, face limitations in output power compared to solid-state lasers. Over the past decade, our team has spearheaded advancements to offer quantitative observations of critical atmospheric state parameters with semiconductor lidar architectures. The presentation provides a comprehensive overview of the observational methodologies behind the MicroPulse DIAL (MPD), showcasing data examples from deployments.