An Airborne Visible Light Lidar’s Methodology for Clear Air Turbulence Detection Based on Weak Optical Signal

Abstract

A clear air turbulence (CAT) detection method using a 532 nm visible light airborne laser radar (LiDAR) system is proposed to address the urgent challenge in the aviation safety field. This method is based on the indirect detection technique of atmospheric molecular density for CAT and utilizes the strong aerosol scattering absorption characteristics of the iodine molecular 1109 absorption line to eliminate the interference of aerosol scattering and extinction on the weak molecular backscattering signal caused by CAT. This enables CAT detection under conditions where traditional ultraviolet LiDAR systems fail to function properly due to aerosol presence. The influence of axial wind speed and atmospheric temperature variations on the molecular backscattering spectrum in the aircraft flight path is studied, and a formula for vertical wind speed inversion in the CAT field is derived. The 532 nm airborne LiDAR CAT detection theoretical model and system architecture are presented. Through simulation analysis, the CAT detection range of the visible light LiDAR system is evaluated under different aircraft cruising altitudes and turbulence intensities. The results indicate that, with the proposed LiDAR system, the aerosol scattering influence can be effectively suppressed, and CAT can be detected up to 7 km for light-to-moderate turbulence and 10 km for moderate turbulence ahead of the aircraft when traditional ultraviolet LiDAR systems fail as the backscattering coefficient ratio between aerosol and molecule reaches the 10−1 condition. Based on this finding, a suggestion is made to construct a dual-wavelength (ultraviolet-visible) LiDAR system for CAT detection, aiming to solve the full coverage problem of CAT detection under various aerosol conditions. This study has a reference value for promoting the early resolution of CAT detection in the aviation field.