{"id":207299,"date":"2025-04-29T04:50:39","date_gmt":"2025-04-28T18:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=838644"},"modified":"2025-04-29T04:50:39","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T18:50:39","slug":"nasa-3d-wind-measuring-laser-aims-to-improve-forecasts-from-air-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=207299","title":{"rendered":"NASA 3D Wind Measuring Laser Aims to Improve Forecasts from Air, Space"},"content":{"rendered":"
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5 Min Read<\/div>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNASA 3D Wind Measuring Laser Aims to Improve Forecasts from Air, Space\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\"A<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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3D wind measurements from NASA's Aerosol Wind Profiler instrument flying on board a specially mounted aircraft along the East Coast of the U.S. and across the Great Lakes region on Oct. 15, 2024.<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCredits: <\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNASA\/Scientific Visualization Studio<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Since last fall, NASA scientists have flown an advanced 3D Doppler wind lidar instrument across the United States to collect nearly 100 hours of data \u2014 including a flight through a hurricane. The goal? To demonstrate the unique capability of the Aerosol Wind Profiler (AWP) instrument to gather extremely precise measurements of wind direction, wind speed, and aerosol concentration \u2013 all crucial elements for accurate weather forecasting.<\/p>\n

Weather phenomena like severe thunderstorms and hurricanes develop rapidly, so improving predictions requires more accurate wind observations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a lack of global wind measurements above Earth\u2019s surface,\u201d explained Kris Bedka, the AWP principal investigator at NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. \u201cWinds are measured by commercial aircraft as they fly to their destinations and by weather balloons launched up to twice per day from just 1,300 sites across the globe. From space, winds are estimated by tracking cloud and water vapor movement from satellite images.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, in areas without clouds or where water vapor patterns cannot be easily tracked, there are typically no reliable wind measurements. The AWP instrument seeks to fill these gaps with detailed 3D wind profiles.<\/p>\n

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The AWP instrument (foreground) and HALO instrument (background) was integrated onto the floorboard of NASA\u2019s G-III aircraft. Kris Bedka, project principal investigator, sitting in the rear of the plane, monitored the data during a flight on Sept. 26, 2024. <\/div>\n
NASA\/Maurice Cross<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Mounted to an aircraft with viewing ports underneath it, AWP<\/a> emits 200 laser energy pulses per second that scatter and reflect off aerosol particles \u2014 such as pollution, dust, smoke, sea salt, and clouds \u2014 in the air. Aerosol and cloud particle movement causes the laser pulse wavelength to change, a concept known as the Doppler effect.<\/p>\n

The AWP instrument sends these pulses in two directions, oriented 90 degrees apart from each other. Combined, they create a 3D profile of wind vectors, representing both wind speed and direction.<\/p>\n

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We are measuring winds at different altitudes in the atmosphere simultaneously with extremely high detail and accuracy.<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\"Kris<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Kris bedka<\/p>\n

NASA Research Physical Scientist<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“The Aerosol Wind Profiler is able to measure wind speed and direction, but not just at one given point,” Bedka said. “Instead, we are measuring winds at different altitudes in the atmosphere simultaneously with extremely high detail and accuracy.”<\/p>\n

Vectors help researchers and meteorologists understand the weather, so AWP\u2019s measurements could significantly advance weather modeling and forecasting. For this reason, the instrument was chosen to be part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s (NOAA) Joint Venture Program, which seeks data from new technologies that can fill gaps in current weather forecasting systems. NASA\u2019s Weather Program also saw mutual benefit in NOAA\u2019s investments and provided additional support to increase the return on investment for both agencies.<\/p>\n

On board NASA\u2019s Gulfstream III (G-III) aircraft, AWP was paired with the agency\u2019s High-Altitude Lidar Observatory (HALO<\/a>) that measures water vapor, aerosols, and cloud properties through a combined differential absorption and high spectral resolution lidar.<\/p>\n

Working together for the first time, AWP measured winds, HALO collected water vapor and aerosol data, and NOAA dropsondes (small instruments dropped from a tube in the bottom of the aircraft) gathered temperature, water vapor, and wind data.<\/p>\n

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The AWP and HALO instrument teams observing incoming data on board NASA\u2019s G-III aircraft over Tennessee while heading south to observe Hurricane Helene. Sept. 26, 2024. <\/div>\n
NASA\/Maurice Cross<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cWith our instrument package on board small, affordable-to-operate aircraft, we have a very powerful capability,\u201d said Bedka. \u201cThe combination of AWP and HALO is NASA\u2019s next-generation airborne weather remote sensing package, which we hope to also fly aboard satellites to benefit everyone across the globe.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The combination of AWP and HALO is NASA's next-generation airborne weather remote sensing package.<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\"kris<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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kris bedka <\/p>\n

NASA Research Physical Scientist<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The animation below, based on AWP data, shows the complexity and structure of aerosol layers present in the atmosphere.\u00a0Current prediction models do not accurately simulate how aerosols are organized throughout the breadth of the atmosphere, said Bedka.<\/p>\n

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