Code 912, Principle Investigator:

1
Wind Lidar!

• Code 912, Principle Investigator
• Mr. Bruce Gentry
• NASA Academy Research Associate
• Jeremy Dobler

2
Why Study Winds?

• Winds are the most important variable studying
  dynamics and transport in the atmosphere.
• Wind measurements are critical to improvement of
  numerical weather prediction models.
• Global wind measurements are essential to NASAs
  Earth Science Enterprise mission.
• They can be used to study planetary atmospheric
  dynamics.
• Commercial and military aircraft would benefit
  from clear air wind shear detection as well.

3
Doppler Lidar Wind Measurement Concept
4
My Contribution
Work and Fun With
Optics
Software Writing
Electronics
5
355 nm Receiver Setup
6
Moving From Larger to Smaller Systems.
7
Miniature Dual-Frequency Lidar Components

• Solid Fabry-Perot etalon
• 95 reflectivity _at_ 860 nm
• 15 mm gap
• Finesse 61 FSR 6.66 GHz

• Semi-Conducting Diode
• Laser (AlGaAs)
• ? 852.2 nm
• Power 150 mW CW

8
Mini-Lidar Breadboard Setup
9
Future Work!

• Complete software interface to automate the
  modulation of the laser and lock the signal on
  the edge of the Fabry-Perot etalon filter.
• Integrate breadboard system into a mobile
  container.
• Verify velocity measurements on a hard target in
  lab
• Take actual atmospheric data in the field
  demonstrating the mini-lidar system.

10
Thank You To

• The Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium
• Goddard Space Flight Center University Programs
  and the Directors Discretionary Fund.
• Also to
• The Academy Staff and all of the participants of
  this program.
• The Staff and Faculty at UW-L