Sodar/Lidar Data

Decoders Module

Example of a UVW Diagram.

The Sodar/Lidar decoder can process data from the Sonic Detection And Ranging (Sodar), Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar), and Radio Acoustic Sounding System (RASS) sounding data formats. These methodologies take advantage of three technologies (laser, acoustic, and electromagnetic) to provide real time temperature and/or wind profiles. Many of these sensors are capable of measuring winds in three dimensions, providing U/V/W wind components. SoDAR technologies are used to obtain wind data, which is typically only obtained in the boundary levels. Lidar is a form of laser radar capable of measuring winds in the boundary levels. RASS sounding data includes temperature and wind data.
The Radio Acoustic Sounding System (RASS) sounding data, which includes temperature and wind data, takes advantage of the combination of two technologies, acoustic and electromagnetic, to provide a real-time temperature profile and deduce from it, with good temporal resolution, the "strength" of the temperature gradient. The RASS applies a simple principle of physics: the relationship of the speed of sound and air temperature. RASS soundings are often produced with having either temperature only or wind data only. These two complimentary soundings can be easily combined into a single sounding using RAOB’s “Merge” capabilities.