Airborne Doppler Wind Lidars for Climate and Weather Forecasting G. D. Emmitt Simpson Weather Associates Charlottesville, VA

G. D. Emmitt President and Senior Scientist, Simpson Weather Associates (Est. 1975) Research Associate Professor, University of Virginia (since 1992) AMS Fellow > 150 DWL related papers and presentations. B.S. Physics; M.S. Environmental Sciences; PhD Atmospheric Physics

Current DWL Activities PI, Airborne DWL research using Navy Twin Otter (CIRPAS: Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely Piloted Aircraft Studies, Monterey, CA) PI, Concept design and performance modeling for a hybrid (coherent/direct detection) DWL testbed to be flown on Proteus (for Integrated Program Office of the NPOESS) PI, Investigation of the utility of Adaptive Targeted atmospheric wind profiles from space- based and airborne platforms (w/ Kalney(UMd) and Toth(NOAA/NCEP)

Current DWL Activities (cont) PI, Feasibility study for a space-based hybrid DWL on an NPOESS platform (IPO of the NPOESS) PI, SBIR to develop airborne DWL data processing and adaptive targeting system for use with Battlefield weather forecasting models (USArmy). PI, Developing observation requirements for UAV reconisense of the life cycle of tropical storms including hurricanes/typhoons (National Institute of Aerospace at NASA/LaRC) PI, Developing a Mars Lidar Simulation Model for the design of orbiting DWL, DIAL and backscatter lidars to support Mars exploration. (NASA)

Vision for Airborne DWLs The utility of airborne DWL observations is being demonstrated (CIRPAS Twin Otter DWL and the DLR Falcon DWL); the impact on weather forecasting in not in question. The challenge is to reduce the cost, physical size, weight and power (for UAV applications) of capable DWLs. Given the diverse demands on an optical wind sounder, the hybrid technology approach will most likely be optimal. Applications for smaller, lower cost and more capable DWLs include HLS, Aviation Safety and global atmospheric observations using commercial aircraft/UAVs.

Strategy Engage technology community in down- sizing DWLs currently designed primarily for ground-based applications. Develop low latency between observations and the assimilation of data into models. Conduct extended adaptive targeting demonstrations to establish reliable impact statistics (the models need to be changed to optimally use these new data).