ATMOSPHERIC MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20130314694A1
• Filed: 02/02/2011
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michigan Aerospace Corporation
• Original Assignee: Michigan Aerospace Corporation
• Inventors: Tchoryk, Peter Jr., Zuk, David Michael, Johnson, David Keith, Richey, Charles J., Tayebati, Parviz
• Granted Patent: US 9,086,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/28.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/45 using interferometric methods; using Schlieren methods
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/538 for determining atmospheric attenuation and visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/003 Bistatic lidar systems; Multistatic lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/58 Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/95 for meteorological use
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

One of first and second beams (28) of corresponding first and second light (13) are projected into an atmosphere (20) and at least one physical property of the atmosphere (20) is detected from the interference pattern (47) generated from the resulting scattered light (30). The first and second beams (20) are selected responsive to either a detected signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or a detected aerosol-to-molecular ratio (AMR). The wavelength (740) of the first light (13) provides for either molecular or aerosol scattering, whereas the wavelength (738) of the second light (13) provides for primarily only aerosol scattering. In accordance with a second aspect, scattered light (30) from one or more beams (28) of substantially monochromatic light (13) projected into the atmosphere (20) and received from a plurality of interaction regions (17) or measurement volumes (52) provides for determining wind power (P*) within a region of the atmosphere (20).

Claims

1. A method of remotely sensing an atmosphere, comprising:

a. projecting one of a first beam of first light and a second beam of second light into an atmosphere at a first point in time so as to become scattered by said atmosphere, wherein said first light comprises a first wavelength configured for scattering from at least one of molecules and aerosols of said atmosphere, said second light comprises a second wavelength configured for scattering from said aerosols of said atmosphere, and a distribution of wavelengths of said one of said scattered first light and said scattered second light is responsive to at least one physical property of said atmosphere;

b. receiving one of said scattered first light and said scattered second light scattered from said atmosphere;

c. generating at least one first interference pattern responsive to said one of said scattered first light and said scattered second light based on said distribution of wavelengths of said one of said scattered first light and said scattered second light;

d. detecting said at least one physical property of said atmosphere from said at least one first interference pattern;

e. detecting at least one of a measure of signal-to-noise ratio and a measure of an aerosol-to-molecular ratio from said at least one first interference pattern based on a ratio of an amount of said scattered first light by said aerosols in said atmosphere to an amount of said scattered first light scattered by said molecules in said atmosphere; and

f. selecting one of said first beam of first light and said second beam of second light to be projected into said atmosphere at a second point in time after said first point in time, wherein the selecting said one of said first beam of first light and said second beam of second light to be projected at said second point in time is responsive to said at least one of said measure of signal-to-noise ratio and said measure of said aerosol-to-molecular ratio responsive to said first beam of first light.

7. A method of remotely sensing an atmosphere as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one physical property comprises at least one of a measure responsive to a velocity of said atmosphere, a measure responsive to a temperature of said atmosphere and a measure responsive to a density of said atmosphere.

13. A method of remotely sensing an atmosphere as recited in claim 1, wherein when projected into said atmosphere said first beam of first light and said second beam of second light are each projected through a common set of source optics, further comprising selecting said one of said first beam of first light and said second beam of second light by positioning a mirror that provides for reflecting at least one of said first beam of first light and said second beam of second light from a corresponding source to said common set of source optics.

14. A method of remotely sensing an atmosphere as recited in claim 13, wherein the operation of positioning said mirror comprises:

a. moving said mirror to a first position and reflecting with a first surface of said mirror when projecting said first beam of first light; and

b. moving said mirror to a second position and reflecting with a second surface of said mirror when projecting said second beam of first light.

18. A method of remotely sensing an atmosphere as recited in claim 1, further comprising optically bandpass filtering said one of said scattered first light and said scattered second light prior to the operation of generating said at least one first interference pattern, wherein the operation of optically bandpass filtering comprises passing a range of wavelengths of said one of said scattered first light and said scattered second light spanning a wavelength of corresponding said first light or second light.

23. A method of remotely sensing an atmosphere as recited in claim 1, further comprising simultaneously generating a second interference pattern responsive to said one of said first light and said second light, wherein said at least one first interference pattern and said second interference pattern are generated by a common interferometer, and the operation of detecting said at least one physical property of said atmosphere is further responsive to said second interference pattern.

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19-22. -22. (canceled)

24. An atmospheric measurement system, comprising:

a. a first light source, wherein said first light source provides for generating a first beam of first light, and said first light comprises a first wavelength that provides for scattering said first light from at least one of molecules and aerosols of an atmosphere;

b. a second light source, wherein said second light source provides for generating a second beam of second light, said second light comprises a second wavelength that provides for scattering said first light substantially only from said aerosols of said atmosphere;

c. at least one set of source optics in cooperation with said first and second light sources, wherein said at least one set of source optics provides for projecting at least one of said first beam of first light and said second beam of second light into said atmosphere so as to provide for one of said first light and said second light to become scattered by said atmosphere as a corresponding one of scattered first light and scattered second light, and a distribution of wavelengths of said one of said scattered first light and said scattered second light is responsive to at least one physical property of said atmosphere;

d. at least one light receiving system configured to receive either said scattered first light or said scattered second light from said atmosphere and for generating a corresponding at least one first interference pattern in response thereto;

e. at least one detection system, wherein said at least one detection system provides for detecting said at least one first interference pattern;

f. at least one processor, wherein said at least one processor in cooperation with said at least one detection system provides for detecting said at least one physical property of said atmosphere from said at least one first interference pattern, said at least one processor in cooperation with said at least one detection system provides for detecting at least one of a measure of signal-to-noise ratio and a measure of an aerosol-to-molecular ratio from said at least one first interference pattern, said aerosol-to-molecular ratio is responsive to a ratio of an amount of said scattered first light by said aerosols in said atmosphere to an amount of said scattered first light scattered by said molecules in said atmosphere, said at least one processor provides for selecting one of said first beam of first light and said second beam of second light to be projected into said atmosphere, and the operation of selecting said one of said first beam of first light and said second beam of second light to be projected into said atmosphere is responsive to said at least one of said measure of signal-to-noise ratio and said measure of said aerosol-to-molecular ratio responsive to said first beam of first light.

30. An atmospheric measurement system as recited in claim 24, wherein said at least one physical property comprises at least one of a measure responsive to a velocity of said atmosphere, a measure responsive to a temperature of said atmosphere and a measure responsive to a density of said atmosphere.

32. An atmospheric measurement system as recited in claim 24, said at least one processor provides for activating one of said first light source and said second light source responsive to said at least one of said measure of signal-to-noise ratio and said measure of said aerosol-to-molecular ratio responsive to said first beam of first light.

35. An atmospheric measurement system as recited in claim 24, further comprising:

a common set of source optics configured to cooperate with said first and second light sources;

a mirror that provides for said first and second light sources to cooperate with said common set of source optics; and

an actuator under control of said at least one processor that provides for positioning said mirror in one of two positions, wherein in a first position, said mirror provides for said first beam of first light from said first light source to be projected by said common set of source optics into said atmosphere, and in a second position, said mirror provides for said second beam of second light from said second light source to be projected by said common set of source optics into said atmosphere.

38. An atmospheric measurement system as recited in claim 24, further comprising at least one set of receive optics, wherein said at least one set of receive optics provide for receiving either said scattered first light or said scattered second light from said atmosphere prior to said at least one interferometer.

41. An atmospheric measurement system as recited in claim 24, further comprising first and second bandpass filters in cooperation with said at least one interferometer, wherein said first bandpass filter provides for passing said first wavelength in cooperation with said first light source, said second bandpass filter provides for passing said second wavelength in cooperation with said second light source.

43. An atmospheric measurement system as recited in claim 24, wherein said light receiving system includes at least one interferometer and said at least one interferometer comprises at least one Fabry-Perot interferometer.

44. An atmospheric measurement system as recited in claim 24, wherein said light receiving system includes at least one interferometer and said at least one interferometer comprises either a spatial heterodyne spectrometer.

46. An atmospheric measurement system as recited in claim 24, wherein said light receiving system includes at least one interferometer and said at least one detection system comprises a direct detection system.

47. An atmospheric measurement system as recited in claim 24, wherein said at least one detection system comprises a heterodyne detection system.

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31. (canceled)

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42. (canceled)

45. (canceled)

48. A method of remotely sensing an atmosphere, comprising:

a. projecting one or more beams of substantially monochromatic light into an atmosphere over a period of time from one or more locations, wherein each beam of said substantially monochromatic light of said one or more beams of said substantially monochromatic light is projected at one or more angles of azimuth and one or more angles of elevation, and said one or more angles of azimuth and said one or more angles of elevation are relative to a corresponding coordinate system centered about a corresponding location of said one or more locations;

b. for each said beam of said substantially monochromatic light of said one or more beams of said substantially monochromatic light;

receiving scattered light from one or more measurement volumes therein along said beam of substantially monochromatic light, wherein a distribution of wavelengths of said scattered light is responsive to at least one physical property of said atmosphere, and said at least one physical property of said atmosphere comprises at least one of a velocity of said atmosphere and a density of said atmosphere within said one or more measurement volumes therein;

generating at least one interference pattern responsive to said scattered light, wherein said at least one interference pattern is responsive to said distribution of wavelengths of said scattered light; and

detecting said at least one physical property of said atmosphere within said one or more measurement volumes therein from said at least one interference pattern;

c. wherein a total set of measurement volumes therein from which said scattered light is received, said at least one interference pattern is generated, and said at least one physical property is detected over said period of time is responsive to a total number of said one or more beams of substantially monochromatic light, a total number of said one or more angles of azimuth for each said beam, a total number of said one or more angles of elevation for each said beam, and a total number of said one or more measurement volumes therein along each said beam, and said total set of measurement volumes therein is sufficient to provide for determining at least one measure of wind power in said atmosphere at one or more measurement volumes therein.

51. A method of remotely sensing an atmosphere as recited in claim 48, further comprising scanning at least one beam of said one or more beams over at least one of a range of angles of azimuth and a range of angles of elevation within said period of time, wherein said at least one beam comprises a corresponding one or more interaction regions or measurement volumes therein, and the operations, of receiving said scattered light,

generating said at least one interference pattern, and detecting said at least one physical property of said atmosphere for each of said corresponding one or more measurement volumes therein of said at least one beam at a plurality of different times within said period of time.

52. A method of remotely sensing an atmosphere as recited in claim 51, wherein the operation of scanning said at least one beam comprises scanning an angular position of said at least one beam in at least one of azimuth and elevation while performing the operations of receiving said scattered light, generating said at least one interference pattern, and detecting said at least one physical property of said atmosphere for each of said corresponding one or more measurement volumes therein of said at least one beam.

53. A method of remotely sensing an atmosphere as recited in claim 52, wherein the operation of scanning said angular position includes one of stepping at each angular position and continuously sweeping through angular positions of said at least one beam.

55. A method of remotely sensing an atmosphere as recited in claim 48, wherein the operation of determining said at least one measure of wind power comprises:

determining at least one wind velocity vector of said atmosphere within one or more measurement volumes of said atmosphere within said period of time; and

determining said at least one measure of wind power responsive to said at least one wind velocity vector and responsive to a measure of said density of said atmosphere within said one or more measurement volumes of said atmosphere within said period of time.

56. A method of remotely sensing an atmosphere as recited in claim 55, wherein the operation of determining said at least one wind velocity vector is responsive to said velocity of said atmosphere within said one or more interaction regions or measurement volumes therein from a plurality of at least three of said one or more beams, and each beam of said plurality of at least three of said one or more beams is oriented in a different direction.

62. A method of remotely sensing an atmosphere as recited in claim 56, wherein the operation of determining said at least one wind velocity vector is responsive to said velocity of said atmosphere within said one or more interaction regions or measurement volumes therein from at least one beam of said one or more beams, and said velocity of said atmosphere within said one or more interaction regions or measurement volumes therein is measured when said at least one beam is oriented in at least three different directions.

63. A method of remotely sensing an atmosphere as recited in claim 62, wherein said at least one beam is scanned over time, and said velocity of said atmosphere within said one or more interaction regions or measurement volumes therein is measured at a plurality of different times.

64. A method of remotely sensing an atmosphere as recited in claim 48, further comprising determining a suitability for power generation from wind within one or more regions of said atmosphere responsive to the operation of determining said at least one amount of or measure of wind power in said atmosphere at said one or more regions of said atmosphere.

68. A method of remotely sensing an atmosphere as recited in claim 48, further comprising determining a location of one or more wind turbines so as to provide for capturing wind power from wind within one or more regions of said atmosphere responsive to the operation of determining said at least one amount of or measure of wind power in said atmosphere at said one or more regions of said atmosphere.

72. A method of remotely sensing an atmosphere as recited in claim 48, further comprising comparing said at least one amount of or measure of wind power within one or more regions of said atmosphere with a corresponding measure of power actually generated by one or more wind turbines responsive to wind within said one or more measurement volumes of said atmosphere.

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