Improved Remote Operation Capabilities for the NASA GSFC Tropospheric Ozone Lidar for Routine Ozone Profiling for Satellite Evaluation

Abstract:

In order to observe tropospheric ozone more effectively, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center TROPospheric OZone DIfferential Absorption Lidar (GSFC TROPOZ DIAL) has been developed and validated within the Tropospheric Ozone Lidar Network (TOLNet). Historically, the instrumentation was almost exclusively required onsite operators to ensure scientific quality measurements. As NASA prepares for geo-stationary air quality satellites, such as Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring Pollution (TEMPO), efforts are underway to transition to ground-based observations that can provide continuous information about the vertical variability of ozone.

In this work we describe major hardware and software upgrades implemented within the GSFC TROPOZ DIAL. These upgrades include full automation to the lidar system and controls of various sub-systems to characterize the overall health of the lidar system. This was implemented with several Python graphical user interface programs to provide a consolidation of data into coherent graphs, new file saving and back up mechanics, and various hardware modifications to allow for heritage equipment to be remotely operated. The purpose of these changes were to allow unattended and scientifically rigorous observations to be collected during deployments in an arrangement where an operator could remotely monitor the status of the entire lidar system with appropriate network connections. Further efforts led to real-time archiving of data files that could be accessed by members of the team. Selected observations during 2020 are shown to illustrate the final ozone profiles and various metrics provided by the automation software. These observations include the full automation of the system, which now allows unattended measurements during frequent satellite overpasses, and a new receiver that extends the measurement capabilities of the system down to 100 m above surface.