Lidar Pit Stop

The National Science Foundation funded the development of Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) mobile Fe Doppler lidar, led by Dr. Xinzhao Chu. The mobile Fe-Resonance/Rayleigh/Mie Doppler Lidar aims to achieve bias-free measurements for understanding the role of turbulence and other atmospheric disturbances in the dynamics and mixing of the upper atmosphere, as well as the characterization of these disturbances in three dimensions. Having previously demonstrated measurements of atmospheric Fe layers in the MLT region, Dr. Chu’s research group is motivated to refurbish and further develop the Fe-Doppler lidar system after it was relocated to its new observation site in late 2023. The objective is to make atmospheric stability measurements for the NASA Turbulent Oxygen Mixing Experiment (TOMEX Plus) sounding rocket investigation (scheduled for launch “in late August 2024”, Xinzhao Chu). This poster will introduce the MRI Fe Doppler lidar and recent advancements to the lidar systems in preparation for the science campaign.