Space lidar 'Tectonica-A' and ground based testing

摘要

The objective of Russian space project "Tectonica- A" is creation of automated lidar for studying aerosol anomalies, mainly, in the low atmosphere. By such anomaly is meant heterogeneity both of the aerosol concentration and its microphysical properties. Therefore, this project assumes that a small spacecraft will be equipped with multifrequency (wavelength range from 0.35 to 0.06 mum) lidar. The lidar is aimed to investigate the aerosol fields formed during tectonic (including seismic) processes and catastrophes. Using the lidar high potentiality providing detection of local emissions in the low atmosphere. The project execution is in the stage A-B (draft design). The lidar installation is oriented to the platform MKA-200. Simultaneously with the lidar creation, the methods are developed on the basis of its mini-prototype. In October, 1999, the spatial-temporal boundaries of aerosol anomalies near Rostov-on-Don break (West Caucasus) were investigated during artificial and natural earthquakes. Simultaneously, gases show (radon, first of all) and fluctuations of atmospheric electric fields were estimated. Some correlation between aerosol, gas, and electric anomalies has been fou,d which underlines once again a priority of aerosol from the standpoint of remote optical monitoring of tectonic processes. Based on the obtained results, the methodological aspects of space laser sensing of aerosol anomalies are discussed in the report. The requirements to the lidar "Tectonica-A" and space experiments conducting are refined as well.