1. LaRC Wind Observations with the VALIDAR Doppler Lidar Grady J. Koch 1, Jeffrey Y. Beyon 2, Bruce W. Barnes 1, and Michael J. Kavaya 1 1 NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA USA 2 California State University—Los Angeles, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Los Angeles, CA USA

2. LaRC Objectives System testbed for advanced high-energy lasers and optical components for future airborne and spaceborne Doppler lidars. Serve as ground-based test bed validation source for future airborne and spaceborne lidar measurements Test advanced receiver and processing components.

3. LaRC Lidar Specifications Laser material: Ho:Tm:LuLiF Pulse energy = 95 mJ Pulse width = 180 ns Pulse repetition rate = 5 Hz Spectrum = single frequency Wavelength = 2053.5 nm Telescope aperture = 6 inches Detector: InGaAs heterodyne Digitization rate up to 2 Gs/s at 8 bits (500 Ms/s typical) Beam scanning: hemispherical coverage

4. LaRC Coherent Lidar Design cw laser pulsed laser

5. LaRC Vertical Wind Measurement—Clouds and Downdrafts

6. LaRC Vertical Wind Measurement—Thunderstorm

7. LaRC Horizontal Wind Measurement—Nocturnal Jet

8. LaRC Horizontal Wind Measurement—Cirrus in Jet Stream

9. LaRC Future Work Incorporate higher energy lasers (600 mJ laser demonstrated). Improve receiver efficiency. Implement advanced signal processing. Develop flight-hardened version.