Comparison Of Lidar And Mini-Rawin Sonde Profiles
Document ID: 360
Master's Thesis
Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, U.S.A.
Abstract
Current Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology allows for remotely sensed, real-time measurement of most atmospheric properties including structure, dynamics and primary chemical constituents. The LIDAR Atmospheric Profile Sensor (LAPS) instrument, completed in April 1996 at the Applied Research Laboratory/Pennsylvania State University (ARL/PSU), was developed as a prototype sensor for continuous, automated atmospheric soundings aboard aircraft carriers, advanced-radar combatants and shore stations. These data can then be used to calculate the atmosphe1ic refractivity profiles for electromagnetic propagation prediction and as input to system performance assessments.
This report shows the advantages and disadvantages of LAPS atmospheric data as compared to the MRS sounders currently in use. LAPS can provide an accurate, continuous on-demand real-time data, is able to characterize variations in the marine boundary layer, and does not require cumbersome logistic support (e.g. helium bottles and balloons). The present weaknesses of LAPS are its relatively coarse vertical resolution, degraded daytime data due to scattering, sometimes erratic temperature measurements, and ship's gas absorption.
| Citation: | D. E. Harrison, "Comparison Of Lidar And Mini-Rawin Sonde Profiles", U.S. Navy, Master's Thesis, June 1998, 52 pages |