REMOTE SENSING OF TROPOSPHERIC GASES AND AEROSOLS WITH AN AIRBORNE DIAL SYSTEM.

Abstract

A multipurpose airborne differential absorption lidar (DIAL system has been recently developed at the NASA Langley Research Center to remotely measure the profiles of various gases and aerosols in diverse atmospheric investigations. In addition to describing the multipurpose airborne DIAL, this paper discusses the first O//3 profile measurements made with an airborne DIAL system in the lower troposphere and lower stratosophere. The first airborne DIAL measurements of water vapor are presented, and the measurement of aerosol profiles during a regional tropospheric flight experiment are discussed. Potential airborne DIAL measurements of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide and simultaneous water vapor and temperature measurements are also briefly reviewed.