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Abstract
The differential absorption lidar (DIAL) system of the University of Hohenheim (UHOH) measures profiles of atmospheric water-vapor number density and particle backscatter ratio with high temporal and spatial resolution both during day and night. The instrument is housed in a 12-m trailer and can be moved to the site of interest. By use of a scanning transmitter, 2-dimensional (2D) and even 3D fields of atmospheric humidity and particle backscatter ratio can be observed.
The instrument
employs laser radiation in the near IR between 815 and 820 nm, a spectral region where several water-vapor absorption lines with different strength are present. Lines can be selected for optimizing the signal-to-noise ratio according to the maximum range of interest and amount of humidity present in the atmosphere. The high resolution is achieved by a new high-power laser transmitter based on a Ti:Sapphire laser which is pumped by a diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser and a large scanning telescope (80 cm diameter of the primary mirror).
In summer 2009, the instrument is deployed within the campaign FLUXPAT in of the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre „Patterns in Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Systems: monitoring, modelling and data assimilation“ of the German Research Foundation. We expect novel data on the spatial and temporal variability of the atmospheric water vapor field down to the ground in inhomogeneous terrain and ist relation to soil and vegetation characteristics. First results will be presented and discussed at this conference.