Title: Airborne Remote sensing of the OH tropospheric column with an Integrated Path Differential LIDAR: Motivation and Transmitter
Presenting Author: Thomas Hanisco
Organization: NASA GSFC
Co-Author(s): Demetrios Poulios, Paul R. Stysley, Julie M. Nicely

Abstract:
The Hydroxyl radical, OH, is central to the photochemistry that controls tropospheric oxidation including the removal of atmospheric methane. Measurements of this important species are thus critical to testing our understanding and for constraining model results. Until now, tropospheric measurements have been limited to airborne or ground-based in situ instruments best suited to test photochemical box models. However, because of the growing recognition of the importance of the global methane abundance, we have a growing need to better quantify OH at the regional to global scales that are best sampled with airborne or space-based remote sensing instruments. To address this need, we have developed an instrument concept and have begun work on a laser transmitter for an airborne integrated path differential absorption (IPDA) LIDAR for the detection of OH. We will describe the instrument and laser and present laboratory results from the development of the laser.