Lidar Measurements of Meteorological Properties and Profiles of RF Refractivity
Document ID: 130
Philbrick, C. Russell
Lysak, Jr., Daniel B.
The Pennylvania State University, ARL Remote Sensing Department, University Park, PA, U.S.A.
Presented: 1996 Battlespace Atmospherics Conference
San Diego, California, 3-5 December 1996
Abstract
The refractivity of the lower atmosphere effects the propagation paths of radars, radio communications and navigational systems. Variations in RF propagation conditions are of concern in many civilian and military operational systems. The refractivity, thus local propagation conditions, can be fully described if the profiles of the molecular scatters, i.e. molecular density and particularly water vapor profiles, are known. The traditional techniques used to measure these atmospheric properties are based upon balloon sonde point sensor measurement of temperature and water vapor. Laser remote sensing techniques can now provide these measurements with high spatial and temporal resolution, under most conditions. Thus, lidar measurements can directly provide RF refractivity profiles. A semi-automated operational prototype instrument has been prepared, Lidar Atmospheric Profile Sensor (LAPS), which provides the meteorological properties and refractivity as real time data products. Examples of the measurement capability for atmospheric properties obtained with the new operational prototype (LAPS) instrument are presented which indicate the capability of Raman lidar techniques to provide the real time profiles of atmospheric properties and RF refraction. The LAPS lidar was tested onboard the USNS Sumner during September and October 1996 and successfully demonstrated that high quality meteorological profiles can be obtained from Raman lidar. Results from the real time measurements of the atmospheric profiles will be presented.
| Citation: | "Lidar Measurements of Meteorological Properties and Profiles of RF Refractivity", Philbrick, C. R., D. B. Lysak, Jr., BACIMO 1996 Conference Proceedings, U.S. Navy, 1996, pp. 595 - 609 |