Ground-Based Water Vapor Profiling Lidar

The vertical water vapor profile into the atmosphere is measured around the world using balloon-borne radiosondes that take measurements twice a day when the balloons are launched. The objective of this proposal is to establish the feasibility of measuring the amount of water vapor vertically, in the atmosphere as a function of altitude using a Light Detection and Ranging (lidar) operating in the eye-safe spectral region. The system would have to set in place to operate autonomously, relaying data back to a central collection database. We will analyze lidars using the Raman technique, differential absorption lidar (DIAL), and optical parametric oscillators (OPOs). We will arrive at an optimized solution space that will define the characteristics and behavior of the Bennett Aerospace Water Vapor Profiler system (WaV-ProTM). WaV-ProTM will be developed and commercialized over three program phases with the goal of dramatically increasing the amount of data for water vapor profiling.