Development of a mobile platform with scanner for determining absolsute humidity profiles in the atmosphere

• Applicant: Dr. Dietrich Althausen
• Subject Area: Atmospheric Science, Oceanography and Climate Research
• Term: from 2004 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5414866

Within this project the first platform (trailer) for a scanning water-vapor differential-absorption lidar (DIAL) based on a high-power laser will be developed. The lidar is planned to be put, for the first time in Germany, in a deployment pool at disposal of the international atmospheric research community. Not withstanding the biggest telescope (80 cm) and scanning mirror ever applied on a mobile platform, the system will feature minimum transportation and handling effort granting operational performance in field campaigns within one day after transport. Among the sophisticated components to be implemented in the platform are a fast scanning unit, the detector assembly, controlling and automation tools as well as the data acquisition system. Innovative software for the routine determination of water-vapor concentration and measurement errors will be developed. The transmitter with the high-power laser and the frequency-conversion unit, both developed within parallel projects of the package proposal, will be integrated in the trailer. Supported by a close co-operation between the groups during planning and realization of the system, this project is in charge of taking the crucial step from high-power laser transmitter to high-performance lidar reference system.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Major Instrumentation: mobiles Lidar-Scan-Teleskop und Spezialanhänger als mobile Plattform für DIAL
• Instrumentation Group: 6620 Funkanlagen (außer Konferenz- und Saal-Sprechanlagen)