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ESA tests laser to measure atmospheric carbon dioxide

3 December 2008

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Illustration of the geometry for the measurements performed during the Reflex campaign to support the candidate Earth Explorer A-SCOPE mission. The laser on board the aircraft illuminated areas of about 10 m in diameter space every 10 m along the measurement track. In the spaceborne configuration, the laser is expected to illuminate areas of about 100 m diameter every 150 m.

Credits: DLR

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The A-SCOPE mission concept aims to observe total column carbon dioxide with a nadir-looking pulsed Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL). A-SCOPE, along with five other candidate missions, is currently undergoing assessment.

Credits: ESA - AOES Medialab

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LPP, ASCOPE campaign, Laser, DLR, aircraft

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Laser system installed on the DLR Cessna Grand Caravan. The instrument comprised a laser, which emits in the near-infrared at a wavelength (envisaged for the spacecraft), a telescope collecting the reflected signal from the ground and an acquisition system to measure the relative level of returned signal. By means of simultaneously recorded GPS data, the measurements could be attributed to exact locations on the ground.

Credits: DLR

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The DLR research Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft at Cordoba airport in Spain

Credits: DLR

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Olive groves seen by the infrared camera on board the aircraft during a flight over southern Spain. Two cameras, one operating in the visible and one in the infra-red, have been installed on board the aircraft to help identifying ground surface type.

Credits: DLR