Abstract

Laser based sensors have recently received increasing attention as systems to remotely measure basic state parameters of the atmosphere such as temperature, moisture, pressure and winds. Ground based lidar systems are currently in various stages of development to demonstrate these measurement capabilities and spaceborne lidar systems have been proposed for obtaining global coverage of data required to improve numerical weather forecasts. Measurements of the wind field have been shown to be particularly important in improving numerical forecasts (Halem, 1983).

© 1985 Optical Society of America