Middle-atmospheric Doppler lidar using an iodine-vapor edge filter

We present both modeled capabilities of and experimental data from a Doppler lidar for the stratosphere and the lower mesosphere that uses the edge of a molecular iodine filter in a differential measurement to provide frequency discrimination. Modeled results show a capability for wind measurements to an altitude of 55 km with 1.5-km resolution in 30 min. Experimentally, wind-vector components from 18 to 45 km are measured every 20 min. The molecular-vapor filter provides great advantages with regard to system stability; operation in less-than-optimum weather conditions, and simplicity of data analysis. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.