Elastic LIDAR system (LIPAZ)

In order to provide additional high resolution information about the atmospheric characteristics in the surrounding area of Chacaltaya, an atmospheric custom-made LIDAR (light detection and ranging) is installed at the campus of the University Mayor de San Andrés in La Paz about 22 km in a straight line from the Chacaltaya GAW station.

The system transmitter and receiver are set in a coaxial configuration which, in addition to zenith measurements, allows angular measurements (or scanning). The transmitter consists of a Nd:YAG laser emitting 80 mJ pulses at a wavelength of 532 nm (20Hz) and a 5x beam expander. The  receiver is made with a Newtonian telescope (f =700 mm, diameter=250 mm) that collects the backscattered light, followed by an optic detector which collimates, filters (1 nm) and focuses the light beams on a photomultiplier (PMT). This detector converts the backscattered light signal into an electrical signal, whose intensity and time delay is stored in a matrix for subsequent analysis. The data acquisition process is performed by means of a Tektronix DPO3014 oscilloscope controlled by the GPIB port and a program developed in Labview.  The LIDAR operates on a regular basis once a week (Monday mornings), for longer periods for specific campaigns, and for some time it coincided with radiosonde launches. This LIDAR is part of the LALINET network.

Lidar system located in La Paz (UMSA campus)

Contact person: Ricardo Forno