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  • Author or Editor: R. L. Schwiesow x
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R. L. Schwiesow
,
R. E. Cupp
,
V. E. Derr
,
E. W. Barrett
,
R. F. Pueschel
, and
P. C. Sinclair

Abstract

Using an airborne lidar, we have measured atmospheric aerosol backscatter coefficients (differential backscatter cross section per unit volume) for 10.6 μm wavelength laser radiation as a function of height to 5200 m for a number of meteorological conditions over the United States high plains. Airborne in situ samplers measured the particle size distribution at the same time and altitude as the lidar measured backscatter. One backscatter coefficient profile at 10.6 μm was compared with a 0.694 μm lidar backscatter profile as well as with the particle size distribution profile. The average infrared backscatter coefficient ranged from ∼8 × 10−9 m−1 sr−1 at the surface to 1 × 10−10 sr−1 at 5200 m altitude.

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R. J. Keeler
,
R. J. Serafin
,
R. L. Schwiesow
,
D. H. Lenschow
,
J. M. Vaughan
, and
A. A. Woodfield

Abstract

Measurement of air motion relative to an aircraft by a conically scanned optical Doppler technique has advantages over measurements with conventional gust probes for many applications. Advantages of the laser air motion sensing technique described here include calibration based on physical constants rather than experiment for an accurate measurement of mean wind, freedom from flow distortion effects on turbulence measurements, all-weather performance, reduction in error from mechanical vibrations and ability to measure vertical wind shear. An experiment comparing a single-component laser velocimeter and a differential pressure gust probe shows that the optical approach measures the turbulence spectrum accurately at frequencies up to 10 Hz and that the signal-to-noise ratio is not a limiting factor. In addition, we have observed the effect of spectral skewing caused by airflow distortion in cloud.

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