Rayleigh Doppler Lidar

Interpretation of most of the middle and upper atmospheric dynamical and chemical data relies on the climatologically description of the wind field. Rayleigh Doppler lidar is one instrument which monitors wind profiles continuously (though continuity is limited to clear meteorological conditions) in the middle atmosphere. A Doppler Rayleigh lidar, operating in incoherent mode, gives excellent wind and temperature information at altitudes with necessary spectral sensitivity. It observes atmospheric winds by measuring the spectral shift of the scattered light, due to the motions of atmospheric molecules. The Doppler capability as an augmentation to the existing lidar is being designed to cover the height range of 30-65 km, a region where radars cannot provide winds. With the addition of Doppler Rayleigh capability, NARL becomes a unique facility of providing a continuous profile of wind measurements, without any gaps, from near the ground to 110 km though with different techniques.