Abstract

The optical path length from a satellite to the earth's surface is strongly dependent on the atmospheric pressure along the propagation path. Surface pressure can be measured by using a two-color laser altimeter to observe the change with wavelength in the optical path length from a satellite to the ocean surface. The statistical characteristics of the ocean-reflected pulses and the expected measurement accuracy are evaluated in terms of the altimeter parameters. The results indicate that a pressure accuracy of a few millibars is feasible.

© 1983 Optical Society of America

Multicolor laser altimeter for barometric measurements over the ocean: experimental

James B. Abshire and James E. Kalshoven
Appl. Opt. 22(17) 2578-2585 (1983)

Technique for remotely measuring surface pressure from a satellite using a multicolor laser ranging system

C. S. Gardner
Appl. Opt. 18(18) 3184-3189 (1979)

Two-color short-pulse laser altimeter measurements of ocean surface backscatter

James B. Abshire and Jan F. McGarry
Appl. Opt. 26(7) 1304-1311 (1987)

Differential absorption lidar technique for measurement of the atmospheric pressure profile

C. Laurence Korb and Chi Y. Weng
Appl. Opt. 22(23) 3759-3770 (1983)

Remote sensing of sea state using laser altimeters

B. M. Tsai and C. S. Gardner
Appl. Opt. 21(21) 3932-3940 (1982)