Abstract

The possibility of accurate remote measurements of temperature and humidity using a three-wavelength differential absorption technique is discussed. Selection of water vapor absorption lines for the measurement promises highest accuracy for temperature measurements and also allows the simultaneous determination of absolute humidity. Preliminary measurements of average temperature and humidity over a 775-m long path using a continuously tunable infrared lidar are reported. For the temperature measurements a relative accuracy of 1.4°C was observed. The absolute error, however, is presently ~5°C due to inaccuracies in the wavelength selection of the lidar transmitter. Humidity was measured with a 1.5% relative error limited by return signal fluctuations. The method is feasible for depth resolved measurements of temperature and humidity.

© 1981 Optical Society of America

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