Performance and Technique of Coherent 2-μm Differential Absorption and Wind Lidar for Wind Measurement

Abstract

Abstract 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 speed. The performance of the Co2DiaWiL is described and analyzed, with a view to demonstrating system capabilities for remote measurements of wind velocities in the atmospheric boundary layer and free troposphere. Bias in the velocity measurements was estimated at −0.0069 m s−1 using measurements from a stationary hard target. The Co2DiaWiL achieved a velocity precision of 0.12 m s−1, derived from the magnitude of random error in radial wind velocity measurements. These measurements were made for ranges out to 20–25 km by using a horizontally fixed beam mode for average times of 1 min. Quantitative intercomparisons of 1-min averages between the Co2DiaWiL and a sonic anemometer revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.99. This study demonstrated measurements of horizontal wind profiles, by making radial wind velocity measurements with the Co2DiaWiL using conical scanning. Profile differences at higher levels could be attributed to probable large horizontal separations of the radiosondes and the low signal-to-noise ratio of the Co2DiaWiL. A pseudo-dual-Doppler technique was developed to retrieve horizontal wind components with a single-Doppler lidar and a steering mirror. Intercomparisons of the 1-min-averaged u and υ components from the pseudo-dual-Doppler lidar measurements with those from the sonic anemometer revealed correlation coefficients of 0.84 and 0.83, respectively.