Development of a UAV-based Global Ozone Lidar Demonstrator (GOLD)

Abstract- A compact ozone (O3) and aerosol lidar system is under development for conducting global atmospheric investigations from an Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and for enabling the development of a space-based O3 and aerosol lidar. The objective of this activity is to develop and test a UAV-based Global Ozone Lidar Demonstrator (GOLD) that will enable revolutionary new global Earth system science investigations from UAV platforms and from space. GOLD will incorporate the most advanced technology to produce a compact, autonomously operating O3 and aerosol Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) system for a UAV platform. The GOLD system leverages the most advanced Nd:YAG and optical parametric oscillator laser technologies and advanced receiver optics, detectors, and electronics. Significant progress has been made toward the development of the GOLD system, and this paper describes the objectives of this program and the design of the GOLD system