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A Ground-Based Profiling Differential Absorption LIDAR System for Measuring CO2 in the Planetary Boundary LayerGround-based LIDAR observations can potentially provide continuous profiles of CO2 through the planetary boundary layer and into the free troposphere. We will present initial atmospheric measurements from a prototype system that is based on components developed by the telecommunications industry. Preliminary measurements and instrument performance calculations indicate that an optimized differential absorption LIDAR (DIAL) system will be capable of providing continuous hourly averaged profiles with 250m vertical resolution and better than 1 ppm precision at 1 km. Precision increases (decreases) at lower (higher) altitudes and is directly proportional to altitude resolution and acquisition time. Thus, precision can be improved if temporal or vertical resolution is sacrificed. Our approach measures absorption by CO2 of pulsed laser light at 1.6 microns backscattered from atmospheric aerosols. Aerosol concentrations in the planetary boundary layer are relatively high and are expected to provide adequate signal returns for the desired resolution. The long-term goal of the project is to develop a rugged, autonomous system using only commercially available components that can be replicated inexpensively for deployment in a monitoring network.
Document ID
20030108661
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Andrews, Arlyn E.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Burris, John F.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Abshire, James B.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Krainak, Michael A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Riris, Haris
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Sun, Xiao-Li
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Collatz, G. James
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Meeting Information
Meeting: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting
Location: San Francisco, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: December 6, 2002
End Date: December 10, 2002
Sponsors: American Geophysical Union
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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