An ER-2 aircraft airborne lidar as part of the development program of a spaceborne system: A potential NASA/CNES cooperative project

A lidar system for atmospheric investigations to fly aboard a high altitude aircraft is introduced. Scientific objectives of the program are reviewed in terms of the expected accuracy and temporal and/or spatial resolution of measurements such as ozone vertical profiles in the troposphere and stratosphere, cirrus clouds studies, tropospheric and stratospheric aerosol monitoring and water vapor measurements in the boundary layer and at the troposphere stratosphere interface. The instrument is conceived as an autonomous, space qualified system as a first step towards a fully automated system for spaceborne applications.