DIFFERENTIAL ABSORPTION LIDAR (DIAL) MEASUREMENTS FROM AIR AND SPACE

Differential absorption lidar (DIAL) systems have been used for the me asurement of ozone, water vapor, and aerosols from aircraft platforms for over 18 years, yielding new insights into atmospheric chemistry, c omposition, and dynamics in large-scale field experiments conducted al l over the world. The successful deployment of the lidar in-space tech nology experiment (LITE) in September 1994 demonstrated that space-bas ed lidars can also collect valuable information on the global atmosphe re. This paper reviews some of the contributions of the NASA Langley R esearch Center's airborne ozone and water vapor DIAL systems and space -based LITE system to the understanding of the atmosphere and discusse s the feasibility and advantages of putting DIAL systems in space for routine atmospheric measurements off ozone and/or water vapor and aero sols and clouds. The technology and applications of the differential a bsorption lidar (DIAL) technique have progressed significantly since t he first DIAL measurements of Schotland [1], and airborne DIAL measure ments of ozone and water vapor are frequently being made in a wide ran ge of field experiments. In addition, plans are underway to develop DI AL systems for use on satellites for continuous global measurements. T his paper will highlight the history of airborne lidar and DIAL system s, summarize the major accomplishments of the NASA Langley DIAL progra m, and discuss specifications and goals for DIAL systems in space.