Eyesafe Laser Radar for Remote Detection of Atmospheric CO2

65607 Increasing carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere could significantly change the global climate and alter water use, yet the monitoring of carbon dioxide exchange is constrained by an inability to gather data over large areas. Currently available sensors do not provide the ability to sample a large volume of atmosphere with accuracy and precision, limiting the ability to compare measurements with global and local exchange models. This project will build an eye-safe, coherent, laser-radar-based, CO2 remote sensor that is fieldable and capable of measuring CO2 concentrations precisely and accurately over several kilometers. Increasing the interrogation area will permit the monitoring of large scale carbon dynamics, which is crucial to understanding the carbon cycle. In Phase I, detailed modeling calculations were performed to predict the performance of low and high power, pulsed and continuous wave, CO2 sensors. The calculations indicated that precise and accurate (<1ppm) CO2 measurements could be achieved with heterodyne detection laser-based sensors over ranges of several kilometers. In addition, experiments were performed to measure CO2 column content over a range exceeding 600 meters with a heterodyne detection receiver. In Phase II, a compact, solid-state laser-radar-based sensor, that will measure CO2 remotely in the atmosphere over several kilometers, will be built. Measurements with this field-ready system will be performed to compare this sensor with the point sensors and short path devices already in service. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The sensor should be valuable for monitoring atmospheric constituents and pollutants at large volume industrial plants. In addition, this type of device could be used with other equipment for the measurement of winds, chemical and biological agents, and other airborne constituents.