title: Preliminary measurements with an automated compact differential absorption lidar for the profiling of water vapor.
abstract: The design and preliminary tests of an automated differential absorption lidar (DIAL) that profiles water vapor in the lower troposphere are presented. The instrument, named CODI (for compact DIAL), has been developed to be eye safe, low cost, weatherproof, and portable. The lidar design and its unattended operation are described. Nighttime intercomparisons with in situ sensors and a radiosonde are shown. Desired improvements to the lidar, including a more powerful laser, are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Environmental Technology Laboratory (ETL), Boulder, Colorado, USA. janet.machol@noaa.gov
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Machol
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ayers
authors.forename: Karl T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Schwenz
authors.forename: Keith W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: R Michael
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hardesty
authors.forename: Christoph J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Senff
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Krainak
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Abshire
authors.forename: Hector E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.forename: Scott P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Sandberg