Latest developments on Vaisala broadband DIAL with examples

Continuous water vapor profiling within the atmospheric boundary layer is a major unmet measurement requirement for real-time monitoring of humidity profiles and improving numerical weather prediction. Water vapor mixing ratio profile information can be used in mesoscale numerical models for severe weather prediction, flash flood prediction, energy management, and other applications. Vaisala has been developing broadband Water Vapor Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) to meet with the need of lacking humidity profile observations. Vaisala broadband DIAL not only reports water vapor mixing ratio in the boundary layer, but also serves as an atmospheric profiler offering attenuated backscatter profile to obtain information on scatterers in the atmosphere including clouds, precipitation, and aerosols.

In this presentation, the latest hardware and software improvements on our broadband DIAL are presented with case examples. In recent years, we have been continuously testing our prototypes with different scientific partners in different climates as well as on our test field. Based on the vital feedback from our scientific partners we have been able to focus and develop solutions to improve the prototype performance incrementally. We have been developing features based on the user feedback, as well as improving data format and data visualization. Most importantly, the performance of the instrument has been improved, including the reduction of instrument-related biases in various situations. Our target is to meet the needs of the community to better serve the field of numerical weather prediction and use of broadband DIAL in networks.

In addition, we will present our vision of the finalized product that can help with meteorological applications from numerical weather prediction improvements to atmospheric boundary layer research and unattended operation in all-weather situations.