DESIGN OF AN AUTOMATIC SCANNING LIDAR SYSTEM TO MAP UPPER TROPOSPHERIC AEROSOLS AND CLOUD

A DESIGN STUDY IS TO BE CARRIED OUT FOR A LIDAR SYSTEM WHICH WILL PROVIDE THREE-DIMENSIONAL MAPPING OF UPPER TROPOSPHERIC AEROSOL AND CLOUD. APPLICATION WOULD BE FOR ALTITUDES UP TO ABOUT 15 KMS AND RANGES OUT TO 30 KM. THE INSTRUMENT WOULD PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF COLOR-CODED REAL-TIME DISPLAY OF AEROSOL BACKSCATTER AND CLOUD POSITION,AS WELL AS STORE DATA FOR SUBSEQUENT STUDY AND ANALYSIS. THE SYSTEM WOULD SCAN THE COMPLETE SKY, USING EITHER A BIDIRECTIONAL SCANNING TECHNIQUE OR A UNIDIRECTIONAL SCANNING TECHNIQUE EMPLOYING A MULTIPLE BEAM SYSTEM. THE TOTAL STUDY IS DIVIDED INTO THREE PHASES OF WHICH PHASE I--SYSTEM DESIGN STUDY FORMS THE SUBJECT OF THE PRESENT PROPOSAL. THIS WILL INCLUDE AN INDEPTH STUDY OF THESCIENCE NEEDS AS WELL AS OF CURRENT TECHNOLOGY. THE PRODUCTOF THE THREE-PHASE PROGRAM WOULD BE PROTOTYPE OPERATIONAL SYSTEM DESIGNED FOR APPLICATION TO THESE NEEDS.