Code 912, Principle Investigator:

Mr. Bruce Gentry

NASA Academy Research Associate

Jeremy Dobler

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 NASA’s 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.

Doppler Lidar Wind Measurement Concept

Molecular ()

Aerosol ()

Backscattered Spectrum

Frequency

My Contribution

355 nm Receiver Setup

Moving From Larger to Smaller Systems.

Miniature Dual-Frequency Lidar Components

Solid Fabry-Perot etalon

• 95% reflectivity @ 860 nm

• 15 mm gap

•Finesse ~ 61 FSR ~ 6.66 GHz

• Semi-Conducting Diode Laser (AlGaAs)

• = 852.2 nm

• Power ~ 150 mW CW

Mini-Lidar Breadboard Setup

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.

Thank You To:

The Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium Goddard Space Flight Center University

Programs and the Director’s Discretionary Fund.

Also to: The Academy Staff and all of the

participants of this program. The Staff and Faculty at UW-L