Abstract

NASA is utilizing solid state laser technology in remote sensing systems to monitor the health of Planet Earth. NASA’s objective is the systematic characterization of the total Earth system with special attention to possible anthropogenic changes. By studying the entire Earth over extended periods of time, it may be possible to detect threatening situations, such as the ozone hole or global warming and take reasoned measures to avoid them. A workshop, held under NASA's auspices, identified which earth variables are important to the health of the planet. Of these, about half can be monitored using laser remote sensors. Included in this subset are: aerosols, water vapor, wind velocity, ozone, and greenhouse gasses. Measuring these variables from a satellite has several advantages such as global, high resolution coverage and better high altitude sensitivity.

© 1997 Optical Society of America