Lidar Measurements of Cloud-tracked Winds

Abstract

This paper describes wind measurements derived from displacements of small-scale cloud features obtained from time-lapse videography and simultaneous lidar measurements. Lidar provides the attitude of the cloud feature, with a high degree of accuracy. The video picture provides the information on the horizontal displacement coordinates of the wind speed and direction. Analysis of a large body of data has shown that the method can provide wind information with good spatial and temporal resolution. Comparisons with rawinsonde measurements show very good agreement.