Enhancing Global Aviation Safety with Micro Pulse LiDAR

Sigma Space Staff

Volcanic ash is a recurring impediment to normal air-traffic operations in Europe, Asia and South America due to potential jet engine damage caused by the razor-sharp particles in dense ash plumes.

一个值得注意的例子是2010年在冰岛举行的Eyjafjallajökull火山爆发，该火山在整个西欧关闭了空中交通七天，随着新的灰羽流继续进入欧洲领空，需要间歇性关闭。关闭了300多个机场，取消了100,000个航班，1000万乘客受到了影响。这场经济灾难促使研究组织更加重视开发有效的火山灰监测系统。

Evaluation of aerosols detection networks for aviation

为了满足有关火山灰事件的更好信息的需求，图卢兹火山灰咨询中心（VAAC）要求法国国家气象局Météo-France（MF）专注于灰烬问题。MF出发determine the best method of providing accurate information about the size and concentration of volcanic particles from the ground up to a minimum of 12 kilometres altitude.

The subsequent research efforts included the following activities:

• Tracking plumes of volcanic ash or dust through the atmosphere

• Understanding local air quality

• 向空中交通管制员，气象学家和与气雾剂活动有关的工业站点提供警告

During the summer of 2012, using desert dust as a proxy, MF collected data provided by several LiDAR sensors and ceilometers and in-situ measurements using balloon-borne particle counters and aircraft sensors to assess their effectiveness in tracking aerosols.

Using various sensors and the associated location of the instruments, numerical weather predictions (NWP) were used toforecast different synoptic weather, considering the following factors:

• Vicinity of main air routes

• Coverage of the Atlantic coast for ash coming from Iceland and the Mediterranean Sea emitted by the Italian volcanoes

• Impact on MOCAGE (Modéle de Chimie Atmosphérique de Grande Echelle), the French model for chemical species transport

Results of Network Study Point to MiniMPL

After MF’s initial evaluation, several network designs were studied to determine which one provides the best cost/ benefit ratio. Based on criteria of cost and robustness, MF bought sixSigma空间最小LIDAR传感器.

“We decided to place five of the MiniMPL in fixed locations at Lille, Trappes, Brest, Momuy and Aleria,”said JeanLuc Lampin, Studies and Development Engineer MétéoFrance.“The sixth MiniMPL is being kept as a mobile lidar. In case of an ash event, the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre will decide the best place to deploy in terms of the atmospheric circulation and the location of the plume to obtain the best coverage.”

In the future, additional MPL’s will be added to the inventory to expand coverage and develop a comprehensive nation-wide network.

MiniMPL provides new atmospheric details critical to aviation safety

MF’s 3,100 employees are focused on developing the infrastructure and leading-edge technologies necessary to collect meteorological observations for a better understanding of the current atmospheric state. Atmospheric studies are critical for safe airport operations.

To improve global and regional weather modelling and forecasting, MF operates a hybrid network of aerosol LiDAR sensors with a re-deployable mobile component for volcanic ash early warning and detection.

The MiniMPL’s ability to automaticallymeasure depolarizationmakescharacterizing aerosol types feasible for researchers.

“The MiniMPL network is performing very well for MétéoFrance,”said Yunhui Zheng, director of optical engineering at Sigma Space.“通过使用去极化激光雷达传感器网络不断监测大气，可以防止或减轻由于火山灰或重大灰尘事件引起的空气人流中断。”

The MiniMPL uses a laser with arange up to 15 km, as well as dual polarization. The dual polarization backscatter measurements allow for very high accuracy — better than 0.7 per cent. This data enables authorities todiscriminate between the occurrence of pure water clouds and the presence of volcanic ash plumes, ash/water cloud mixtures, and ash concentration profiles. All measurement data is analysed and reported in seconds.

Elevating Atmospheric Monitoring

Micro Pulse LiDAR (MPL) instruments, designed by Sigma Space, help scientists, meteorologists and air quality professionals monitor aerosols to better understand the structure of our atmosphere.

MPL’s long-range capabilities and high-quality signal increase efficiency and accuracy of the data capture process for improved atmospheric monitoring. Originally designed for NASA, MPL uses eye-safe lasers, precision photon counting, and built-in data analysis to deliver the best signal-to-noise ratio and thus the most reliable information in this category.

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For more information, visit:www.micropulseLiDAR.com