Airborne Raman Ozone, Temperature, and Aerosol Lidar (AROTAL)

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Airborne Raman Ozone, Temperature, and Aerosol Lidar (AROTAL)

Status

Operated By:

Tom McGee, Don Silbert

This is a stratospheric lidar which is configured to fly on the NASA DC-8. It is a zenith viewing instrument, which makes vertical profile measurements of ozone, aerosols and temperature. Stratospheric ozone can be measured at solar zenith angles greater than ~30 degrees, while temperature and aerosols require SZA > 90 degrees. The SNR is maximized under dark coonditions. The measurement of Near-field water vapor measurements is being investigated and could be readily implemented. The instrument utilizes a XeCl excimer laser and a Nd-YAG laser to make DIAL, Raman DIAL, and backscatter measurements. A zenith viewing 16" telescope receives the lidar returns.

Instrument Type:

Lidar, Raman spectrometer

Measurements:

Temperature, O3, Aerosol Backscattering, Aerosol Extinction, Aerosol Depolarization Ratio

Aircraft:

DC-8 - AFRC

Point(s) of Contact:

Thomas J. McGee (POC; PI)

Additional Information

Publications:

Burris, J., et al. (2002), Validation of temperature measurements from the airborne Raman ozone temperature and aerosol lidar during SOLVE, J. Geophys. Res., 107, 8286, doi:10.1029/2001JD001028.