Ground-based laser DIAL system for long-term measurements of stratospheric ozone.

A ground-based differential absorption lidar system has been implemented to make long-term, precise measurements of stratospheric ozone concentration profiles from ~20 to 50 km altitude. This lidar is located at an elevation of 2300 m in the San Gabriel Mountains, Southern California, and has been in operation since Jan.1988. A high power (100-W) excimer laser system and a 90-cm diam telescope are used to achieve the desired performance levels. This paper describes the implementation of the system and its operation including the procedures for data analysis. Examples of ozone profiles measured, and intercomparisons with measurements made by other instruments, are presented which show that the lidar, in its present configuration, is capable of producing high quality ozone measurements from 20 km up to at least 45 km.

Measurement intercomparison of the JPL and GSFC stratospheric ozone lidar systems.

For approximately one month during October and November 1988 the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center mobile lidar system was brought to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Table Mountain Facility, to make side-byside measurements with the JPL lidar of stratospheric ozone concentration profiles. Measurements were made by both excimer laser DIAL systems on fifteen nights during this period. The results showed good agreement of the ozone profiles measured between 20- and 40-km altitude. This is the first (to the best of our knowledge) reported side-by-side measurement intercomparison of two stratospheric ozone lidar systems.

Lidar measurements of stratospheric ozone and intercomparisons and validation.

A ground-based, high power differential absorption lidar (DIAL) system has been implemented to make long term, precise measurements of stratospheric ozone concentration profiles from ~20- to 50-km altitude. This lidar is located at an elevation of 2300 m in the San Gabriel Mountains, Southern California, and has been in operation since January 1988. Evaluation of the results obtained from this system has been provided through an inter-comparison campaign, carried out during October/November 1988, and through long term comparison with SAGE II satellite measurements. This paper describes the implementation of the system and its operation, including the procedures for data analysis. Examples of ozone profiles measured and inter-comparisons with measurements made by other instruments are presented which show that the lidar is capable of producing high quality ozone measurements up to at least 45-km altitude.