Boundary layer height measurements with an eyesafe Lidar

Gary G. Gimmestad; Edward M. Patterson; David W. Roberts; Susan C. Gimmestad

doi:10.1117/12.177298

3 June 1994 Boundary layer height measurements with an eyesafe Lidar

Gary G. Gimmestad, Edward M. Patterson, David W. Roberts, Susan C. Gimmestad

Proceedings Volume 2112, Tunable Diode Laser Spectroscopy, Lidar, and DIAL Techniques for Environmental and Industrial Measurements; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.177298
Event: SPIE's International Symposium on Optical Sensing for Environmental Monitoring, 1993, Atlanta, GA, United States

Abstract

We have developed and operated an eyesafe lidar in support of an intensive set of air chemistry measurements in Atlanta, Georgia, which were part of the Southern Oxidants Research Program (SORP) during the summer of 1992. The lidar was used to monitor the thickness of the mixed layer by measuring the vertical distribution of boundary layer aerosols. The lidar system is based on a Raman-shifted Nd:YAG laser source at 1.54 microns wavelength with a pulse energy of 40 mJ and a pulse repetition frequency of 4 Hz. The receiver aperture was 46 mm in diameter and an InGaAs PIN diode was used as the detector. The lidar data was typically averaged over 1000 laser pulses, which required about 4 minutes. The lidar returns were range corrected to yield profiles of signal versus altitude in which the signal is proportional to the atmospheric backscatter coefficient. The profiles showed the vertical extent of boundary layer aerosols, and this was interpreted to find the mixed layer thickness. Data was acquired on nine days in July and August 1992. Measurements were typically made at 15-minute intervals from early morning until midafternoon. Mixed layer thicknesses provided by the lidar have been shown to be consistent with balloon sonde results, and they have proved to be useful in interpreting atmospheric chemistry results.

Citation Download Citation

Gary G. Gimmestad, Edward M. Patterson, David W. Roberts, and Susan C. Gimmestad "Boundary layer height measurements with an eyesafe Lidar", Proc. SPIE 2112, Tunable Diode Laser Spectroscopy, Lidar, and DIAL Techniques for Environmental and Industrial Measurements, (3 June 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.177298

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