Scientific objectives

The features of the shuttle lidar experiments considered are the very good vertical resolution when used in the pulsed mode, fine horizontal resolution with the capability to probe the troposphere between the clouds, and very high sensitivity in aerosol and thin cloud detection. The ability to select atmospheric constituents by narrow spectral features, such as in resonant scatter or in absorption, the ability to measure temperatures of these constituents by the spectral shape of the features, given adequate spectral purity of the laser, the ability to obtain global scale data rapidly, and the ability to point the lidar system in any direction, subject to the restriction of slew rate and scattered sunlight, are discussed.