Transcript How Does Wind Lidar Work?

Code 912, Principle Investigator:
Mr. Bruce Gentry
NASA Academy Research Associate
Jeremy Dobler
Why Study Winds?
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Winds are the most important variable studying
dynamics and transport in the atmosphere.
Wind measurements are critical to improvement
of numerical weather prediction models.
Global wind measurements are essential to
NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise mission.
They can be used to study planetary atmospheric
dynamics.
Commercial and military aircraft would benefit
from clear air wind shear detection as well.
Doppler Lidar Wind
Measurement Concept
Backscattered Spectrum
Aerosol (l-2)
Molecular (l-4)
Frequency
My Contribution
355 nm Receiver Setup
Moving From Larger to Smaller Systems.
Miniature Dual-Frequency Lidar
Components
Solid Fabry-Perot etalon
• 95% reflectivity @ 860 nm
• 15 mm gap
•Finesse ~ 61 FSR ~ 6.66 GHz
• Semi-Conducting Diode
Laser (AlGaAs)
• l = 852.2 nm
• Power ~ 150 mW CW
Mini-Lidar Breadboard Setup
Future Work!
Complete software interface to automate the
modulation of the laser and lock the signal
on the edge of the Fabry-Perot etalon filter.
 Integrate breadboard system into a mobile
container.
 Verify velocity measurements on a hard
target in lab
 Take actual atmospheric data in the field
demonstrating the mini-lidar system.
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Thank You To:
The Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium
 Goddard Space Flight Center University
Programs and the Director’s Discretionary
Fund.
Also to:
 The Academy Staff and all of the
participants of this program.
 The Staff and Faculty at UW-L
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