Sandra C. Valencia1, Timothy A. Berkoff2, Ellsworth J. Welton3, Vibart S. Scott4, James R. Campbell5

1Science Systems and Applications Inc., GSFC Code 613.1, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA, Esta dirección electrónica esta protegida contra spam bots. Necesita activar JavaScript para visualizarla
2University of Maryland Baltimore County GEST Center, GSFC Code 613.1, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA, Esta dirección electrónica esta protegida contra spam bots. Necesita activar JavaScript para visualizarla
3NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 613.1, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA, Esta dirección electrónica esta protegida contra spam bots. Necesita activar JavaScript para visualizarla
4NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 694, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA, Esta dirección electrónica esta protegida contra spam bots. Necesita activar JavaScript para visualizarla
5Geophysical Institute, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, 903 Koyukuk Dr., Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA, Tel: 1-907-474-6371, Fax: 1- 907-474-7379, Esta dirección electrónica esta protegida contra spam bots. Necesita activar JavaScript para visualizarla

 

Micro-pulse lidar (MPL) systems are portable semi-autonomous instruments suitable for monitoring aerosol and cloud profiles. MPLs serve as the base-line instrument for the NASA Micro-pulse lidar Network (MPLNET) to continuously obtain data at sites around the globe. In order to maintain data quality, sites must maintain instrument’s temperature close to its calibration temperature. Instrument temperatures that significantly deviate from calibration conditions will alter MPL alignment and affect the retrieval of quantitative data products. Thermally induced bias errors are attributed to changes in the Cassegrain-style telescope used in these systems. Analytical and laboratory studies with current MPL telescope and a new athermal telescope are presented. Results from the new telescope demonstrate a significant improvement.