LIDAR is a remote sensing technology and is based on an optical transceiver that both emits optical pulses and detects the backscattered, or reflected, signal. There are many applications of LIDAR, ranging from wind-direction measurements and landscape mapping to steering guidance in self-driving cars. In the MIRDIAL project we use LIDAR in the DIAL configuration for performing range-resolved trace-gas measurements.
Differential absorption LIDAR (DIAL) is a LIDAR configuration which can be used for trace-gas concentration measurements. It works by alternately sending light on and off an absorption line of the trace gas under investigation. The differential on-off return signal may be used to extract spatially resolved concentration maps.
The mid-infrared (MIR) spectral region is often called the spectroscopic fingerprint region. The reason behind this name comes from the fact that various molecules can be identified through their unique absorption spectra in this region. By utilizing a wavelength-tunable LIDAR system in the MIR spectral region, we enable concentration measurements of a large number of important greenhouse gasses.