Affiliation:
1. California Institute of Technology
Abstract
Repetitive, high spatial resolution measurements of water vapor are
highly desirable for a range of critical applications, including
quantitative forecasts of wildfire risk forecasting, extreme weather,
drought implicated in mass refugee dislocation, and air quality. A
point design for an integrated path differential absorption (IPDA)
light detection and ranging (lidar) for column precipitable water
vapor (PWV) intended for high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) uncrewed
aerial systems (UASs) is described and analyzed. A novel, to the best
of our knowledge, all-semiconductor source utilizing an
intensity-modulated continuous wave approach to ranging is proposed,
which facilitates reductions in weight, power, and size. Analytic and
Monte Carlo calculations suggest that high spatial resolution (<10m) or high precision (<1%) may be obtained.
Funder
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration
Subject
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics,Engineering (miscellaneous),Electrical and Electronic Engineering