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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

Infrared lidars for atmospheric remote sensing

Lidars using pulsed TEA-CO2 transmitters and coherent receivers have been developed at JPL and used to measure atmospheric backscatter and extinction at wavelengths in the 9-11 micron region. The global winds measurement application of coherent Doppler lidar requires intensive study of the global climatology of aerosol and cloud backscatter and extinction. An airborne lidar was recently flown on the NASA DC-8 research aircraft for operation during two Pacific circumnavigation missions. The instrument characteristics, as well as representative measurement results, are discussed.

Menzies, Robert T.↗
NASA NTRS1997

LIDAR Remote Sensing Concepts

The primary goal of the NASA New Millennium Program (NMP) is to develop technology for use on future operational missions. The Program consists of two thrust areas, one oriented towards developing technologies for Deep Space Probes and one oriented towards developing technology for Earth Observing Probes. Each thrust area intends to fly several technology demonstrator spacecraft designated DS-X and EO-X respectively where X is the mission number. Each mission has an approximately $100 million cap on total mission cost. The EO-1 mission has been selected and is under development. The instrument discussed here was submitted by NASA MSFC as a potential candidate for the EO-2 or EO-3 missions due to launch in 2001 and late 2002 or early 2003 respectively. This report summarizes and follows the format of the material provided to NMP.

Spiers, Gary D.↗
NASA NTRS1997

LIDAR Remote Sensing Concepts

The primary goal of the NASA New Millennium Program (NMP) is to develop technology for use on future operational missions. The Program consists of two thrust areas, one oriented towards developing technologies for Deep Space Probes and one oriented towards developing technology for Earth Observing Probes. Each thrust area intends to fly several technology demonstrator space designated DS-X and EO-X respectively where X is the mission number. Each mission has an approximately $100 million cap on total mission cost. The EO-1 mission has been selected and is under development. The instrument discussed here was submitted by NASA MSFC as a potential candidate for the EO-2 or EO-3 missions due to launch in 2001 and late 2002 or early 2003 respectively. This report summarizes and follows the format of the material provided to NMP.

Spiers, Gary D.↗
NASA NTRS2000

The Atmospheric Channels of GLAS: Near Real-Time Global Lidar Remote Sensing of Clouds and Aerosols from Space

The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) will be placed into orbit in 2001 aboard the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat). From its nearly polar orbit (94 degree inclination), GLAS will provide continuous global measurements of the vertical distribution of clouds and aerosols while simultaneously providing high accuracy topographic profiling of surface features. During the mission, which is slated to last 3 to 5 years, the data collected by GLAS will be in near-real time to produce level 1 and 2 data products at the NASA GLAS Science Computing Facility (SCF) at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The atmospheric products include cloud and aerosol layer heights, planetary boundary layer depth, polar stratospheric clouds and thin cloud and aerosol optical depth. These products will be made available to the science community within days of their creation. The processing algorithms must be robust, adaptive, efficient, and clever enough to run autonomously for the widely varying atmospheric conditions that will be encountered. This paper presents an overview of the GLAS atmospheric data products and briefly discusses the design of the processing algorithms.

Palm, Stephen P.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Solid-State, High Energy 2-Micron Laser Development for Space-Based Remote Sensing

Lidar (light detection and ranging) remote sensing enjoys the advantages of excellent vertical and horizontal resolution; pointing capability; a signal source independent from natural light; and control and knowledge of transmitted wavelength, pulse shape, and polarization and received polarization. Lidar in space is an emerging technology now being developing to fit applications where passive sensors cannot meet current measurement requirements. Technical requirements for space lidar are more demanding than for ground-based or airborne systems. Perhaps the most distinguishing characteristics of space lidars are the environmental requirements. Space lidar systems must be specially designed to survive the mechanical vibration loads of launch and operate in the vacuum of space where exposure to ionizing radiation limits the electronic components available. Finally, space lidars must be designed to be highly reliable because they must operate without the need for repair or adjustment. Lifetime requirements tend to be important drivers of the overall system design. The maturity of the required technologies is a key to the development of any space lidar system. NASA entered a new era in the 1990 s with the approval of several space-based remote sensing missions employing laser radar (lidar) techniques. Following the steps of passive remote sensing and then active radar remote sensing, lidar sensors were a logical next step, providing independence from natural light sources, and better spatial resolution and smaller sensor size than radar sensors. The shorter electromagnetic wavelengths of laser light also allowed signal reflectance from air molecules and aerosol particles. The smaller receiver apertures allowed the concept of scanning the sensor field of view. However, technical problems with several space-based lidar missions during that decade led to concern at NASA about the risk of lidar missions. An external panel was convened to make recommendations to NASA. Their report in 2000 strongly advocated that NASA maintain in-house laser and lidar capability, and that NASA should work to lower the technology risk for all future lidar missions. A multi-Center NASA team formulated an integrated NASA strategy to provide the technology and maturity of systems necessary to make Lidar/Laser systems viable for space-based study and monitoring of the Earth's atmosphere. In 2002 the NASA Earth Science Enterprise (ESE) and Office of Aerospace Technology (OAT) created the Laser Risk Reduction Program (LRRP) and directed NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) and Goddard Space Flight Center to carry out synergistic and complementary research towards solid-state lasers/lidars developments for space-based remote sensing applications.

Singh, Upendra N.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Laser Remote Sensing and Lidar Measurements for Planetary Bodies

Laser Remote Sensing and lidar have been used for earth remote sensing for a number of years however the inefficiency of laser devices has limited their application to planetary sensing where power is at a premium. The potential availability of a large amount of power for the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO) opens up the potential to implement laser remote sensing for planetary bodies. Lidars have been and can be used to map terrain, measure atmospheric and surface parameters including velocity and composition. In this paper we will provide an overview of the lidar capabilities at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and address the types of lidar measurements that could be relevant to JIMO science investigations.

Spiers, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Lidar receivers for picosecond remote sensing

The lidars of picosecond resolution are an attractive tool for remote probing of some highly dynamic objects like sea subsurface waters, small-scale turbulences in the atmosphere, etc. The picosecond lasers are suitable illuminating sources, but the main restrictions are due to the lack of proper receiving methods, combining the both high temporal and amplitude resolution, good sensitivity, short integration time, and wide dynamic range. The methods for short pulse measurements are not suitable for picosecond lidars, operating at low level, with highly dynamic signals. The streak-cameras are of high cost, lower sensitivity, and lower dynamic range (approximately 10(exp 3)). Because of the background, the single quantum regime in photomultipliers (PMT) is ineffective. The sampling of highly dynamic optical signals with resolution less than or equal to 1ns is a serious problem, limiting the application of the high speed PMT-MCP (microchannel plate) in the picosecond lidar systems. The goal of this work is to describe the use of a new photodetection technique which combines the picosecond resolution with the high amplitude resolution, dynamic range, and sensitivity.

Stoyanov, D. V.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Airborne Lidar-Based Estimates of Tropical Forest Structure in Complex Terrain: Opportunities and Trade-Offs for REDD+

Background: Carbon stocks and fluxes in tropical forests remain large sources of uncertainty in the global carbon budget. Airborne lidar remote sensing is a powerful tool for estimating aboveground biomass, provided that lidar measurements penetrate dense forest vegetation to generate accurate estimates of surface topography and canopy heights. Tropical forest areas with complex topography present a challenge for lidar remote sensing. Results: We compared digital terrain models (DTM) derived from airborne lidar data from a mountainous region of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil to 35 ground control points measured with survey grade GNSS receivers. The terrain model generated from full-density (approx. 20 returns/sq m) data was highly accurate (mean signed error of 0.19 +/-0.97 m), while those derived from reduced-density datasets (8/sq m, 4/sq m, 2/sq m and 1/sq m) were increasingly less accurate. Canopy heights calculated from reduced-density lidar data declined as data density decreased due to the inability to accurately model the terrain surface. For lidar return densities below 4/sq m, the bias in height estimates translated into errors of 80-125 Mg/ha in predicted aboveground biomass. Conclusions: Given the growing emphasis on the use of airborne lidar for forest management, carbon monitoring, and conservation efforts, the results of this study highlight the importance of careful survey planning and consistent sampling for accurate quantification of aboveground biomass stocks and dynamics. Approaches that rely primarily on canopy height to estimate aboveground biomass are sensitive to DTM errors from variability in lidar sampling density.

Airborne lidar↗
NASA NTRS1995

Differential absorption lidars for remote sensing of atmospheric pressure and temperature profiles

A near infrared differential absorption lidar technique is developed using atmospheric oxygen as a tracer for high resolution vertical profiles of pressure and temperature with high accuracy. Solid-state tunable lasers and high-resolution spectrum analyzers are developed to carry out ground-based and airborne measurement demonstrations and results of the measurements presented. Numerical error analysis of high-altitude airborne and spaceborne experiments is carried out, and system concepts developed for their implementation.

Korb, C. Laurence↗
NASA NTRS2003

Combined Lidar-Radar Remote Sensing: Initial Results from CRYSTAL-FACE and Implications for Future Spaceflight Missions

In the near future NASA plans to fly satellites carrying a multi-wavelength backscatter lidar and a 94-GHz cloud profiling radar in formation to provide complete global profiling of cloud and aerosol properties. The CRYSTAL-FACE field campaign, conducted during July 2002, provided the first high-altitude colocated measurements from lidar and cloud profiling radar to simulate these spaceborne sensors. The lidar and radar provide complementary measurements with varying degrees of measurement overlap. This paper presents initial results of the combined airborne lidar-radar measurements during CRYSTAL-FACE. The overlap of instrument sensitivity is presented, within the context of particular CRYSTAL-FACE conditions. Results are presented to quantify the portion of atmospheric profiles sensed independently by each instrument and the portion sensed simultaneously by the two instruments.

McGill, Matthew J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Multiwavelength LIDAR for remote sensing of chlorophyll A in algae and phytoplankton

A theoretical and experimental analysis of laser induced fluorescence for remote detection of chlorophyll A in living algae and phytoplankton is presented. The fluorescent properties of various species of algae representative of the different color groups are described. Laboratory measurements of fluorescent scattering cross sections is discussed and quantitive data presented. A scattering matrix model is developed to demonstrate the essential requirement of multiwavelength laser excitation in order to make accurate quantitative measurements of chlorophyll A concentration when more than one color group of algae is present in the water. A practical airborne laser fluorosensor design is considered and analysis of field data discussed. Successful operation of the Langley ALOPE (airborne LIDAR oceanographic probing experiment) system is described and field measurements presented. Accurate knowledge of alpha, the optical attenuation coefficient of the water, is shown to be essential for quantitative analysis of chlorophyll A concentration. The feasibility of remotely measuring alpha by laser radar is discussed.

Mumola, P. B.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Remote Sensing of Multi-Level Wind Fields with High-Energy Airborne Scanning Coherent Doppler Lidar

The atmospheric lidar remote sensing groups of NOAA Environmental Technology Laboratory, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory have developed and flown a scanning, 1 Joule per pulse, CO2 coherent Doppler lidar capable of mapping a three-dimensional volume of atmospheric winds and aerosol backscatter in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. Applications include the study of severe and non-severe atmospheric flows, intercomparisons with other sensors, and the simulation of prospective satellite Doppler lidar wind profilers. Examples of wind measurements are given for the marine boundary layer and near the coastline of the western United States.

Rothermel, Jeffry↗
NASA NTRS2000

A New ER-2 Lidar System and Implications for Doppler Lidar Simulation

A new high-altitude remote sensing lidar is nearing completion at NASA-Goddard. The lidar will replace the existing Cloud Lidar System and will provide measurements of cloud and aerosol parameters at 1064, 532, and 355 nm. It is anticipated that the aerosol backscatter data from this instrument will be highly valuable for producing spaceborne simulations of Doppler lidar systems. Such simulations are possible, as has been previously demonstrated using data from the old Cloud Lidar System. The new lidar will allow improved simulation capability, particularly at 355 nm, which is a primary candidate wavelength for spaceborne Doppler systems. Descriptions of the new lidar will be shown, the science capabilities will be described, and the potential impact on future spaceborne simulations will be discussed.

McGill, M.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Atmospheric wind sensing with a 1 and 2 micron coherent lidar

The majority of coherent lidar remote sensing performed to date has utilized carbon dioxide gas laser technology at wavelengths of 9 to 11 microns. However, the use of rapidly developing solid state laser technology and the shorter wavelengths offers many potential advantages. These advantages include low mass, small size, long shelf and operating lifetimes, the absence of consumables, and in many cases, increased atmospheric transmission. The shorter wavelengths of solid state lasers allow velocity measurements having better range resolution for equivalent wind velocity resolution. Coherent Technologies, Inc. has developed a 1.06 and 2.1 micron coherent lidar system for remote wind field measurements. This system is described, and some performance data are given.

Huffaker, R. Milton↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

TPSAS-NF1676L-11855-DND

Understanding climate and climate change requires characterizing and quantifying the individual components of the Earth energy budget. Satellite lidar now provides new capabilities to improve the characterization of cloud and aerosol impacts on the radiation budget. This talk will discuss fundamentals of the lidar remote sensing, current applications of data from the CALIOP spaceborne lidar to climate studies, and discuss prospects for constraining the energy budget using satellite lidars now in development.

David M Winker↗