Abstract
In this paper the influences of recent technology developments in the areas of lasers, detectors, and optical filters of a differential absorption lidar (DIAL) system on the measurement of tropospheric water vapor (H20) profiles are discussed. The lidar parameters selected are based upon a diode-seeded Ti:sapphire laser that is locked to an H20 line in the 820- or 930-nm band of H20. To assess the influence of the mode of deployment on the measurement of tropospheric H20, DIAL performance is evaluated for operation from a medium-altitude (12 km) aircraft the ground, and space-based systems. It is found that incorporation of these developments could greatly enhance DIAL measurement capability.
