Global wind profiling is very important to improve the initial conditions for numerical weather prediction and meteorological studies. Current space-based passive sensors and micro sensors have large coverage and high temporal resolution but low vertical resolution. A Doppler Wind Lidar is a useful remote sensing technique for measuring line-of-sight (LOS) wind speed under clear-sky and/or thin-cloudy conditions, and it provides wind profiles with good vertical and temporal resolutions. We will present activities on future space-based lidar in Japan and 2-μm key technology meeting requirements for the future space-based coherent Doppler Wind Lidar.
The realization of three-dimensional global wind profile measurements provides significant benefits, such as improvement in the precision of numerical weather forecasts and understanding of the causes of climate change. A spaceborne coherent Doppler wind lidar is considered to be the most powerful instrument for providing accurate tropospheric wind profiles with high spatial and temporal resolutions. Conductively cooled techniques are also important for spaceborne lidar applications because they have several advantages over liquid cooling systems. The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) is conducting feasibility studies of conductively cooled, Q-switched 2 μm Tm,Ho:YLF lasers to meet a requirement for a spaceborne CDWL. In recent years, the energy extraction efficiency from Tm,Ho:YLF lasers has been improved dramatically by reviewing the laser rod parameters and the resonator design. In this study, we report on a single-frequency, Q-switched Tm,Ho:YLF master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA), which meets the specifications of a spaceborne CDWL transmitter. The MOPA consists of a 3.86-mlong ring oscillator and a single-pass amplifier. For the single-pass amplification, an average output power of 3.95 W, which corresponds to a pulse energy of 131.7 mJ, was obtained at a pulse repetition frequency of 30 Hz and a cooling temperature of -40°C.
Most of space-based observing systems make water-vapor- and temperature-related measurements, while spacebased observing systems for wind measurement is limited. The current passive space-based observing systems for wind measurement has a large coverage area and high temporal and horizontal resolutions but has a low vertical resolution. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) wants to develop space-based wind profiling systems. A Doppler Wind Lidar (DWL) is a useful and power technology for wind measurement and it can be designed as compact mobile, airborne, and space-based systems. DWL would provide us with a wind profile having high vertical resolution, low bias, and good precision, and it is necessary to fill the gap of current observations. The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) is developing a single-frequency high-energy Tm,Ho:YLF laser, 2-μm key technology and instrument for a future space-based coherent DWL. We demonstrated the Tm,Ho:YLF laser producing a pulse energy of 125 mJ operating at 30 Hz meeting requirements for the future spacebased coherent DWL. In the paper, we will describe recent progress at NICT.
A 2-micron Ho:YLF laser end-pumped by 1.94-micron Tm:fiber laser was developed. A ring resonator oscillator of 3 m length and amplifier system was adopted. The laser was operated at high repetition rates of 200-5000 Hz in room temperature. The amplifier outputs were about 7.4W in CW and more than 6 Win Q-switch operation of repetition rates more than 500 Hz. This laser was developed to be used for coherent wind and CO2 measurements. Then, injection seeding was applied to the ring resonator and single mode laser emission was obtained. The laser was used for Doppler wind lidar measurements and wind profiles were obtained.
We report on a design strategy for a Tm,Ho:YLF laser transmitter capable of 125 mJ pulse energy at 30 Hz. Using the results of simulations and experiments, total efficiencies were compared for two different configurations. One is the oscillator operating at 193 K, and the other is the master oscillator and power amplifier operating at 233 K. In the latter case, an extensive cooling system is not required, while the laser efficiency becomes lower. Numerical simulations were performed by using a simple rate equation model. In order to validate the results of simulations, the laser experiments were made with a conductively cooled, side-pumped Tm,Ho:YLF laser in the temperature range of 195-228 K. Based on these results, an optimum configuration to achieve the 125-mJ pulse energy are discussed.
We are developing a 2-micron Ho:YLF laser end-pumped by Tm:fiber laser. The oscillator has ring resonator of 3m
length. The laser is operated at high repetition rate of 200-5000 Hz in room temperature. The oscillator and amplifier
system showed outputs of about 9W in CW and more than 6W in Q-switched operation. This laser will be used for wind
and CO2 concentration measurements.
National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has made efforts in order to develop a 2-μm coherent lidar for measuring CO2 concentration and line-of-sight (LOS) wind speed. Experimental horizontal CO2 measurements were made to examine the detection sensitivity of the 2-μm coherent lidar in April and May, 2008, and October, 2009. Experimental vertical CO2 measurements were made for the Greenhouse gas Observing SATellite (GOSAT) data products validation in February 2010 and in January and February 2011. Bias and random error in the LOS wind speed measurements were also investigated in order to evaluate of the 2-μm coherent lidar for wind measurements in 2010. In the paper, we present an overview of our 2-μm coherent lidar developed at the NICT and also of the experimental results.
We have developing two types of 2micron conductive-cooled lasers for wind and CO2 measurements. One type of lasers is side pumped Tm,Ho:YLF laser operated at 20-40Hz. The laser rod is cooled down to -80C and laser diodes are
operated at normal temperature in a vacuum container. With this type of laser, we have built up a coherent lidar system
which is used to measure wind and CO2 concentration. Ho:YLF laser end-pumped by Tm:fiber laser is another type
oscillator which will be operated at high repetition rate of 200-300 Hz in normal temperature. The laser will have an
amplifier. These lasers are conductive-cooled, solid-state, eye-safe and suitable for space applications.
A dual-wavelength Q-switched Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 and 1319 nm is useful as a light source for simultaneous
lidar observations of a canopy height and a normalized difference vegetation index. In this study, simultaneous dualwavelength
lasing was achieved in a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser by optimizing the resonator designs for both
wavelengths and by adjusting a time interval between two Q-switch trigger pulses. Q-switched pulse energies of 6.9 and
6.2 mJ were obtained at 1064 and 1319 nm, respectively. A pulse-to-pulse amplitude fluctuation at each wavelength was
then measured to be less than ±9%.
In the last decade the precision of coherent Doppler differential absorption lidar (DIAL) has been greatly improved in near and middle infra-red domains for measuring greenhouse gases such as CO2, CH4 and winds. The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT, Japan) has developed and is operating a CO2 and wind measuring ground-based coherent DIAL at 2.05 μm (4878 cm-1). The application of this technology from space is now considered. In this analysis we study the use of the NICT DIAL for profiling tropospheric water vapour from space. We present the methodology to select the spectral lines and summarized the results of the selected lines between 4000 and 7000 cm-1. The choice of the frequency offset, the pulse energy and repetition frequency are discussed. Retrieval simulations from the line at 4580 cm-1 (2.18 μm) suitable for the boundary layer and the stronger one at 5621 cm-1 (1.78 μm) for sounding the boundary layer and the middle troposphere, are shown.
A coherent 2-μm differential absorption and wind lidar (Co2DiaWiL) has been built with a high power Q-switched
Tm,Hm:YLF laser to measure CO2 concentration and radial wind velocity. Our experiment was conducted to test the
ability of the Co2DiaWiL to make wind measurement in the atmospheric boundary layer and lower free troposphere. The bias in the velocity measurement was estimated as –0.0069 m/s using measurements from a stationary hard target. The magnitude of the random error of radial velocity measurements was determined from data in the vertical pointing mode and the Co2DiaWiL achieved a velocity precision of 0.12 m/s. The radial velocity measurements to ranges up to 20-25 km by the horizontally fixed beam mode for average times of 1 min have been demonstrated with the high laser output power. The Co2DiaWiL-measured radial velocities were directly compared with the wind speeds measured by a closelylocated sonic anemometer. The correlation coefficient was as large as 0.99 for comparison of radial velocities averaged for 1 min from the Co2DiaWiL and sonic anemometer.
Laser remote sensing technologies are valuable for a variety of scientific requirements. These measurement techniques
are involved in several earth science areas, including atmospheric chemistry, aerosols and clouds, wind speed and
directions, prediction of pollution, oceanic mixed layer depth, vegetation canopy height (biomass), ice sheet, surface
topography, and others. Much of these measurements have been performed from the ground to aircraft over the past
decades. To improve knowledge of these science areas with transport models (e.g. AGCM), further advances of vertical
profile are required.
JAXA collaborated with NICT and RIKEN started a new cross-sectional 3-year program to improve a technology
readiness of the critical 1-micron wavelengths from 2011. The efficient frequency conversions such as second and third
harmonic generation and optical parametric oscillation/generation are applied. A variety of elements are common issues
to lidar instruments, which includes heat rejection using high thermal conductivity materials, laser diode life time and
reliability, wavelength control, and suppression of contamination control. And the program has invested in several
critical areas including advanced laser transmitter technologies to enable science measurements and improvement of
knowledge for space-based laser diode arrays, Pockels cells, advanced nonlinear wavelength conversion technology for
space-based LIDIRs. Final goal is aim to realize 15 watt class Q-switched pulse laser over 3-year lifetime.
It is very important to watch the spatial distribution of vegetation biomass and changes in biomass over time,
representing invaluable information to improve present assessments and future projections of the terrestrial carbon cycle.
A space lidar is well known as a powerful remote sensing technology for measuring the canopy height accurately. This
paper describes the ISS(International Space Station)-JEM(Japanese Experimental Module)-EF(Exposed Facility) borne
vegetation lidar using a two dimensional array detector in order to reduce the root mean square error (RMSE) of tree
height due to sloped surface.
Wind profile is fundamental in many atmospheric phenomena. Radiosonde, windprofiler, and Doppler lidar, have been
developed for the wind measurement. Radiosonde and windprofiler are used to obtain wind profiles. About 1,300
weather stations launch radiosondes to obtain profiles of pressure, wind, temperature, and humidity. Most of the
weather stations are on land, while the stations on the sea are very sparse. Spaceborne visible and infrared imagers and
microwave scatterometers can obtain wind data only at a specific altitude. Current wind observations are not enough
and their reliability in the global climate model and weather prediction must be improved. Many scientific groups
anticipate the realization of a global observation system for three-dimensional wind measurements. The spaceborne
Doppler lidar is regarded as one of the candidate sensors for the global wind measurements. The working group on
Japanese spaceborne Doppler Lidar has been established to realize for wind measurements from space. In this paper,
we describe the activities and goals of this working group.
An optimum design of neodymium lasers operating near 1320 nm was experimentally investigated. A conductively
cooled Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with two birefringent filter plates produced 18 mJ of energy at 1319 nm. On the other
hand, a Nd:YLF laser allowed us to achieve operations at a single emission line without wavelength selectors because of
its favorable birefringent properties. An output energy of 42 mJ in a single Q-switched pulse at 1313 nm was obtained
with a c-cut Nd:YLF rod.
We developed a coherent 2-μm differential absorption and wind lidar to measure CO2 concentration and line-of-sight
wind speed. The wavelength of on-line laser was set at the R30 absorption line center of CO2 and the atmospheric
transmission for the on-line backscattered signal caused by CO2 is large. Measurable range of CO2 measurement was
limited. A laser frequency offset locking system was installed into the laser system to improved measurable range of
CO2 measurement. Two single-frequency continuous wave lasers are used for the laser frequency offset locking. One
laser (center, λCenter) of the two continuous lasers is directly locked to the R30 absorption line center of CO2 and the other
(on-line, λOn) is frequency-shifted to λCenter laser. Although long-range CO2 measurement depends on the laser frequency offset, the installation of the laser frequency offset realized vertical CO2 measurement in a range of up to the
upper troposphere.
A deep-blue light source is useful for various vegetation studies because strong absorption features of chlorophyll a and
b exist in this wavelength region. Second-harmonic generation of quasi-three-level Nd-doped lasers operating around
900 nm allows us to produce high-energy deep-blue light suitable for remote sensing of vegetation. Currently, we are
developing a high-energy, Q-switched Nd:YVO4 laser operating at 914 nm. Preliminary experiments were performed in
a four-level Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 nm. An output energy of 42 mJ in a single Q-switched pulse with 11-ns
pulse length was obtained for a incident pump energy of 653 mJ at 10 Hz.
We have developed 2micron Q-switched lasers with conductive-cooled side pumped laser head. Q-switched output of 100mJ at 20Hz has been achieved in a Tm,Ho:YLF laser oscillator with a composite rod. The experiments showed that very good thermal conduction is held between rod and heat sink. This laser head may be used for laser amplifier of 500mJ output. Another type of Tm,Ho:YLF laser head has been developed for the oscillator of 50-100mJ output at 20-40Hz. These 2micron lasers are applied to coherent lidar systems, which will be used to measure atmospheric CO2 and wind profiling.
We developed a diode-side-pumped Tm:GdVO4 laser with a conductively cooled pump head as a pump source of a Ho
laser. The laser produced an output energy of 32 mJ at a pulse repetition frequency of 5 Hz. In addition, continuous-wave
operation was demonstrated in a Tm,Ho:GdVO4 microchip laser. An output power of 0.43 W and a slope
efficiency of 33% were achieved near room temperature.
KEYWORDS: Numerical simulations, LIDAR, Doppler effect, Atmospheric modeling, Computer simulations, 3D modeling, Communication and information technologies, Environmental sensing, Transmitters, Sensors
This study presents the coherent Doppler lidar (CDL) observations and numerical simulations of local strong easterly
wind Kiyokawa-dashi, which is most famous gap wind in Japan. Main goal of this study is to clarify the three
dimensional structure and dynamics of Kiyokawa-dashi under the different synoptic situations. Observations were
conducted in August 29 and 30, 2004. A 2μm eye-safe airborne CDL developed by the National Institute of Information
and Communications Technology (NICT) established at the exit of the narrow valley of Mogami-River. The vertical
scanning of CDL with the velocity-azimuth display technique shows that the easterly wind was confined below 600 m,
which is almost same or slightly lower than the crest, and accelerated at the down stream side. The upper layer above
the easterly wind was weak westerly and these vertical structures were common to the all of the events. Horizontal
scanning sounds the line-of-sight (LOS) wind velocity up to 6 km of downstream and presents detailed temporal wind
shift within 5-10 minutes. Numerical simulations have been performed with non hydrostatic atmospheric model (MRINPD
NHM) with horizontal grid spacing down to 1 km. Many of the observed structures were realistically simulated,
but it still has a bias that the detailed temporal evolution wasn't shown in the numerical simulation. The CDL captured
the fine structure and temporal variations of Kiyokawa-dashi. It is a powerful and useful system for studying the wind
field.
We have studied a 2-micron airborne coherent Doppler lidar to observe wind profile downward from flying object. We
investigated the algorithms required to extract the Doppler-shifted frequency compensating for a speed of the flying
object. The airborne experiments were conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of the airborne coherent Doppler lidar
from a flying object in 2002, 2004 and 2006. We extracted the Doppler-shifted frequency corresponding to aircraft
speed with developed algorithms and obtained wind profiles through airborne experiment. To examine wind profiles
measured by the airborne coherent Doppler lidar, we compared those profiles with profiles measured by a
GPS-dropsonde and a windprofiler. Although the volume measured by the airborne coherent Doppler lidar system
differed spatially and temporally from those by other instruments, the wind profiles observed by the airborne coherent
Doppler lidar agreed well with those observed by other instruments.
Space-borne Doppler lidar is expected to make wind profile observations on a global scale with an accuracy of 1 to 2 m/s. It may solve the problem of the shortage of the accuracy and distribution in the current wind data. We have studied an eye-safe coherent Doppler lidar (CDL) model that could be deployed on the exposed facilities of Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) and that would meet the science requirements. We have good prospects of 500mJ output at 10Hz in a conduction cooling sub-scale laser, which could be a small model of space-borne laser for JEM/CDL. We are making studies on improving the system’s efficiency, reducing its weight, and establishing the fundamental technologies involved. Research on another possibility, e.g. a free flyer, for a demonstration mission besides of JEM/CDL is also valuable to be considered. Development of algorithm for application of coherent lidar system is also in progress through air-borne experiments and ground-based observations.
Global wind profiling with a space-borne Doppler lidar is expected to bring big progress in the studies on global climate change and Numerical Weather Prediction. A feasibility study has been done for an eye-safe 2micron coherent Doppler lidar aiming at demonstration of the technology onboard the Japanese Experiment module of the International Space Station. We are now developing an airborne coherent Doppler lidar system to measure wind profile under a jet plane for simulation of the Doppler lidar measurement in space. This system is also operated in the ground to develop algorithm of the wind measurements and the results of the wind profiles are compared with those derived from other instruments.
An eyes-safe, airborne, coherent Doppler lidar (CDL) system has been developed at the Communications Research Laboratory (CRL). It consists of a 2-mm laser transmitter, a receiver, a heterodyne detector, a scanning device, and signal processing equipments. The main objective of the development of this CDL system is to demonstrate the feasibility of CDL from a moving platform. The second objective is to develop a computational algorithm for calculating wind velocity and wind direction. The performance of the CDL was evaluated by a ground-based experiment on wind profiling. That is, zonal, meridional, and vertical wind profiles were obtained by the CDL and by the velocity-azimuth display (VAD) technique with a height resolution of 150 m for every 20 minutes. These profiles were compared with the wind profiles measured by the WindProfiler (WP) installed at CRL. Although the temporal and vertical resolution measured by the CDL differed slightly from that by the WP, the calculated horizontal wind velocity measured by the CDL corresponded well with the WP calculations. It is thus concluded that the developed computational algorithm provides valid calculations of wind velocity.
The performance of a space-borne incoherent Doppler lidar system has been discussed by using modeled atmosphere and analytical calculations. With using the modeled atmosphere, the analytical calculations, and reasonable instrumental parameters, we estimated the error on the line-of-sight (LOS) wind under the assumptions that the horizontal and temporal variation of tropospheric aerosol and atmospheric molecule is negligible in no cloud condition. We used the solar radiance value measured in the troposphere to discuss the LOS wind error on the effect of the solar radiance during daytime. Although the LOS wind error depends on the system parameters, the comparison between the various analytical calculations suggested that the LOS wind errors for those the analytical methods were almost the same values. The simulations showed that the LOS wind error during daytime was almost the same as that during nighttime, suggesting that the wind velocity can be made measurement under the same LOS wind error condition if the integrated solar bandwidth of the filter is narrow enough.
Lidar observations of stratospheric aerosols have been performed at Ny-Aalesund (79 degrees N, 12 degrees East), Svalbard every winter since January 1994. We detected many PSC events in the stratosphere under low temperature condition, especially in 1994/95, 1995/96, 1996/97 winter campaigns. Meanwhile in the Antarctic, lidar observations were made from April, 1997 to January, 1998 at Dome Fuji (78 degrees South, 40 degrees East), and many PSCs were detected almost every day from the end of May to mid October. In the Arctic, PSC layers at the initial stage of appearance were composed mainly of solid particles in each winter season and the layers at sufficiently low temperatures were composed of spherical particles. In the Antarctic, PSCs similar to those over Ny- Aalesund were also detected frequently while the polar vortex was developing or the vortex was unstable. But after a remarkable decrease in the temperature by the invasion of blocking high into the polar vortex, PSCs detected were mainly composed of solid particles.
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