What is the function of laser cloud height instrument?

Laser cloud altimeters mainly measure the height of clouds, and sometimes also the number of clouds. The equipment mainly uses laser measurement, there are two mainstream lasers, one is 905nm semiconductor laser, the other is the traditional 1064nm Q-switched solid laser. This is a relatively mature laser, and the laser cloud altimeter is an important meteorological instrument, which is of great significance for understanding the structure of atmospheric clouds as well as weather forecasting and aerospace safety. Its high precision and real-time performance make it one of the key tools for modern meteorological observation and prediction.

How it works:

The laser cloud height meter emits laser pulses from the ground to the sky, and detects and analyzes the composition of the atmosphere at different heights by receiving the backscattering of this light pulse from the atmosphere. The water vapor component contributes greatly to the backscattering of light, so that the cloud height information can be analyzed.

Measurement data:

◆ Aerosol profile

◆ Cloud base height

◆ Cloud thickness

◆ Vertical visibility

◆ Number of clouds

◆ Low, medium, high, total cloud cover,

◆ Integral cloud cover

◆ Multi-layer cloud and cirrus cloud can be measured

Why measure cloud height? And that's because --

1, weather forecast: cloud height is one of the key parameters in weather forecast. The height of clouds is an important indicator of the evolution and change of weather systems. Accurate measurement of cloud heights can provide information about the vertical structure of weather systems and the characteristics of clouds, helping meteorologists and forecasters better understand weather conditions and improve forecast accuracy.

2. Aviation safety: Cloud height measurement is essential for aviation safety. Aircraft must fly at a safe altitude and avoid collision with clouds. Measuring cloud height can provide information about the flight height limits of the aircraft in different areas, which can help the pilot make the right flight decisions and ensure the smooth operation of the flight.

3, climate research: Clouds are an important part of the Earth's atmosphere and play an important role in climate change. By measuring cloud height, the distribution, change and evolution of clouds can be studied and monitored, and the Earth's climate system can be deeply understood and simulated. Cloud height data is of great significance for climate model validation and improvement.

4, environmental monitoring: Cloud height measurement can also be used for environmental monitoring and air quality assessment. Cloud height information can help identify and track the transmission path and diffusion of air pollutants, so as to assess and warn the atmospheric environment.