Microjoule-class Pulsed Doppler lidars designed for mobile platforms: Recent advances and applications in the NOAA CSL Atmospheric Remote Sensing group

The NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory Atmospheric Remote Sensing program (ARS) has been developing state-of-the-art Doppler lidar systems for over 30 years, and deploying these systems for cutting-edge atmospheric research. Science needs in recent years have driven the development of higher spatiotemporal resolution measurements within the boundary layer to observe processes spanning the mesoscale down to tens of meters or less, such as turbulence, sea breezes, and terrain-driven flows. To meet these needs, ARS has developed compact, rugged microjoule-class pulsed Doppler lidar systems specifically designed for operation from mobile platforms, and has achieved unique capabilities with airborne, seaborne, and truck-based systems utilizing this architecture. These mobile systems profile horizontal and vertical winds while underway by using active motion stabilization of the lidar transceiver, IF frequency shifting to compensate for platform motion, and additional post-processing inertial corrections. These recent advances and applications in a variety of atmospheric studies will be presented.