Method of estimating cloud particle sizes using LIDAR ratio
First Claim
1. A system for measuring an effective size of water particles in a cloud atmosphere, the system comprising:
- a laser configured to generate a pulse of light of a wavelength and to direct the pulse of light into the cloud atmosphere;
an optical detector configured to detect a portion of the pulse of light backscattered by the water particles in the cloud atmosphere; and
a cloud metric calculator configured to determine, based on the detected portion of the pulse of light backscattered by the water particles in the cloud atmosphere, an optical extinction coefficient and a backscatter coefficient,wherein the cloud metric calculator is further configured to estimate, based on a look-up table and a ratio of the determined optical extinction coefficient to the determined backscatter coefficient, the effective size of the water particles in the cloud atmosphere.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and associated methods relate to determining sizes of water particles in a cloud atmosphere based on a detected portion of signals generated from a single monochromatic source and backscattered by water particles in a cloud atmosphere. A backscatter coefficient and an optical extinction coefficient are calculated, based on the detected portion of signals generated from the monochromatic source and backscattered by water particles in the cloud atmosphere. A LIDAR ratio—a ratio of the optical extinction coefficient to the backscatter coefficient, is calculated. Sizes of water particles in the cloud atmosphere are estimated based on the LIDAR ratio. An output signal indicative of the estimated sizes of water particles in the cloud atmosphere is generated. Estimating sizes of water particles using signals from a single monochromatic source advantageously can alert a pilot of an aircraft of cloud conditions, without requiring multi-chromatic sources.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A system for measuring an effective size of water particles in a cloud atmosphere, the system comprising:
-
a laser configured to generate a pulse of light of a wavelength and to direct the pulse of light into the cloud atmosphere; an optical detector configured to detect a portion of the pulse of light backscattered by the water particles in the cloud atmosphere; and a cloud metric calculator configured to determine, based on the detected portion of the pulse of light backscattered by the water particles in the cloud atmosphere, an optical extinction coefficient and a backscatter coefficient, wherein the cloud metric calculator is further configured to estimate, based on a look-up table and a ratio of the determined optical extinction coefficient to the determined backscatter coefficient, the effective size of the water particles in the cloud atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method for measuring an effective size of water particles in a cloud atmosphere, the method comprising:
-
generating a pulse of light of a wavelength; directing the generated pulse of light into the cloud atmosphere; detecting a portion of the pulse of light backscattered by the water particles in the cloud atmosphere; determining, based on the detected portion of the pulse of light backscattered by the water particles in the cloud atmosphere, an optical extinction coefficient and a backscatter coefficient; estimating, based on a look-up table and a ratio of the determined optical extinction coefficient to the determined backscatter coefficient, the effective size of the water particles in the cloud atmosphere; and generating an output signal indicative of the estimated effective size of the water particles in the cloud atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A system for measuring an effective size of water particles in a cloud atmosphere, the system comprising:
-
a laser; a signal detector; one or more processors; and computer-readable memory encoded with instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to; emit a pulse of light from the laser; receive, from the signal detector, a signal indicative of a detected portion of the emitted pulse of light backscattered by the water particles in the cloud atmosphere; determine, based on the received signal indicative of the detected portion of the emitted pulse of light backscattered by the water particles in the cloud atmosphere, an optical extinction coefficient and a backscatter coefficient; estimate, based on a ratio of the determined optical extinction coefficient to the determined backscatter coefficient, the effective size of the water particles in the cloud atmosphere by using a look-up table in which the ratio of the determined optical extinction coefficient to the determined backscatter coefficient is correlated to the effective size of water particles; and generate an output signal indicative of the estimated effective size of the water particles in the cloud atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification