Shipboard Measurement of Cloud Bases and Average Surface Visibility with an Eye-Safe Lidar

摘要

An eye safe lidar, originally built by a Navy contractor, has been modified by the Naval Research Laboratory and evaluated at sea. The instrument operated in the severest weather encountered, a moderate gale. Cloud bases below 2 km and visibilities less than 10 km were measured. Improvements are needed to reduce sky noise and increase receiver sensitivity, but the system is surprisingly resistant to ocean spray and shipboard vibration.