Volume Scanning Strategies for 3D Wind Retrieval from Dual-Doppler Lidar Measurements

Dual-Doppler lidar volume scans for 3D wind retrieval must accommodate the conflicting goals of dense spatial coverage and short scan duration. In this work, various scanning strategies are evaluated with semisynthetic wind fields from analytical solutions and numerical simulations over flat and complex terrain using the Multiple-Doppler Synthesis and Continuity Adjustment Technique (MUSCAT) retrieval algorithm. The focus of this study is to determine how volume scan strategies affect performance of the wind retrieval algorithm. Interlaced scanning methods that take into account actual maximum measurement ranges are found to be optimal because they provide the best trade-off between retrieval accuracy, volume coverage, and scan time. A recommendation for scanning strategies is given, depending on actual measurement ranges, the variability of the wind situation, and the trade-off between spatial coverage and temporal smoothing.