High-energy laser meteorology

The present consideration of the atmospheric sensitivities of high-energy lasers intended for meteorological studies gives attention to the absorption effects of deuterium fluoride and CO2 lasers for several atmospheric gaseous species and aerosols, cloud and precipitation effects, and optical turbulence. Such nonlinear effects as thermal blooming and thermal shock waves are characterized, and the measurement characteristics of modulation transfer function devices, stellar scintillometers, isoplanometers, thermosondes, RF radars, FM-CW radars, molecular absorption/extinction lidars, wind lidars, and passive microwave temperature and humidity profilers, are presented for state-of-the-art devices.