Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 5
Outlook
5.1 Introduction
Remote sensing, either ground-based or airborne or space-borne, is a still developing
field in instrument development and atmospheric boundary layer research. Thus, the
preceding chapters have been merely a snapshot of the present state. The ongoing
enhancements are mainly driven from two sides: technological advancements and
application needs.
5.2 Technological Advancements
Advancements in electronics and microelectronics, in laser techniques, and in com-
puter resources allow for increasingly complex sounding, detection, and evaluation
methods. Progress is especially made in the field of optical and electromag-
netic (including microwave) remote sensing (see e.g. Gaffard et al.
2008
) and
ever-growing data evaluation procedures (Rodgers
2000
).
For instance, the sensing of optical polarization information in addition to the
sensing of radiation intensity in remote sensing is increasingly used in atmospheric
sounding. Imaging polarimetry is an emerging technique that promises to enhance
many fields of optical metrology ranging from remote sensing to atmospheric sci-
ences to industrial monitoring. Polarimetry means to measure information about the
vector nature of the optical field across a scene. Imaging polarimetry is a special
case of polarimetry that is dedicated to mapping the state of polarization across
a scene of interest. A review of the potentials of this technique is given in Tyo
et al. (
2006
). Polarimetry is used, e.g. to determine the amount, size, and type
of aerosols.
Laser technology also offers better measurement options today. For example,
recently a coherent Doppler LIDAR at 2
m wavelength has been built with
higher output energy (100 mJ) than previously available. The laser transmitter
is based on diode-pumped Ho:Tm:LuLiF, a newly developed laser material that
allows more efficient energy extraction. Single-frequency operation is achieved
μ
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