NASA' s plans to observe the Earth' s atmosphere with lidar

The requirements for lidar observations of the Earth's atmosphere and the characteristics of the systems to provide these observations are discussed. The planned Earth Observing System (Eos) will offer platforms with adequate mass and power capabilities from which to make these lidar observations. Planned Eos lidar applications include the laser atmospheric wind sounder (LAWS), and the global backscatter experiment planned for it; the lidar atmospheric sounder and altimeter (LASA); and the ESA research facility instrument ATLID (atmospheric lidar). The laser requirements of all of the Eos laser instruments are presented