Abstract

We review and summarize the measurements and analysis of the atmospheric density data obtained by Rayleigh lidar soundings at Wright Patterson AFB in five campaign periods covering the four seasons of 1989/1990 from summer to spring. The Rayleigh lidar system combined a 14 watts XeF laser with a 2.54 m mirror telescope receiver. A total of 18 nights is included in these measurements with each night series of measurements lasting typically 3 to 5 hours. The altitude coverage for these results extends from 40 to 90 km, and the precision of these results within the middle atmosphere is extraordinarily high. It was of the order of 0.1 % for density and 0.3 K for temperature for data averaged over 30 minutes at 50 to 60 km. The density precision for this data at 90 km for 3 km resolution and 15 minutes averaging was about 5% to 8% depending upon the quality of the seeing at the time of the observations. The large collecting area of the telescope receiver combined with the powerful laser transmitter produces a lidar system of greatly enhanced sensitivity when compared with most other systems in use today.

© 1991 Optical Society of America