Presentation
Based on a compact refractive optical system developed in 2005, patented and transferred to Leosphere for the ALS atmospheric lidar, the mini-lidars of LSCE measure Rayleigh scattering (from gas molecules), Mie scattering (from aerosol particles) and Raman scattering (from specific molecular species) along the laser beam propagation in the target medium. Unique in the world in terms of compactness and robustness, they can be deployed in field campaigns as autonomous payloads in fixed stations at ground level, and in mobile platforms such as aircraft, van, or research vessel.
Lidar observations are the only means to reproduce highly resolved vertical profiles of key atmospheric parameters such as water vapour content, temperature, aerosols, and clouds. They also have great potential for determining vertical profiles of greenhouse gas concentrations at an unprecedented vertical resolution, leading to better source apportionment.
In the last 20 years, our compact lidar systems have been applied to the study of air quality (type and concentration of aerosols), atmospheric dynamics and meteorology (transport, water vapor – aerosol interactions, extreme weather events) and above ground forest biomass concentration and leaf index (demonstration of global survey by satellite). Here are our on-going lidar projects:
Contact : Patrick Chazette