Remote Sensing of Atmospheric Pressure and Sea State from Satellites Using Short-Pulse Multicolor Laser Altimeters,

Abstract

Short-pulse multicolor laser ranging systems are currently being developed for satellite ranging applications. These systems use Q-switched pulsed lasers and streak-tube cameras to provide timing accuracies approaching a few picoseconds. Satellite laser ranging systems have been used to evaluate many important geophysical phenomena such as fault motion, polar motion and solid earth tides, by measuring the orbital perturbations of retroreflector equipped satellites. Some existing operational systems provide range resolution approaching a few millimeters. There is currently considerable interest in adapting these highly accurate systems for use as airborne and satellite based altimeters. Potential applications include the measurement of sea state, ground topography and atmospheric pressure. This paper reviews recent progress in the development of multicolor laser altimeters for use in monitoring sea state and atmospheric pressure. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1983
Accession Number
ADP002745

Entities

People

  • B. M. Tsai
  • C. S. Gardner
  • J. B. Abshire

Organizations

  • University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altimeters
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Barometric Pressure
  • Earth Tides
  • Geological Phenomena
  • Laser Altimeters
  • Lasers
  • Measurement
  • Pulsed Lasers
  • Radio Waves
  • Range Finding
  • Remote Sensing

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Acoustical Oceanography.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Satellites