NASA logoCASEI Logo
NASA | CASEI
Arrow leftBack to Explore

Instrument

RASCAL
Rapid Acquistion SCanning Aerosol Lidar

Rapid Acquisition SCanning Aerosol Lidar (RASCAL) is a mobile, ground-based lidar system developed by the Meteorological Service of Canada. It provides rapid-scanning lidar profiles of the lower troposphere at a 3-meter resolution along the beam axis. RASCAL measurements can be used to retrieve aerosol optical depth, planetary boundary layer height, and wind profiles under certain conditions. It operates at 1064 and 532 nm and can complete a full profile in about 30 to 60 seconds.

NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory passes Antarctica's tallest peak, Mount Vinson, on Oct. 22, 2012, during a flight over the continent to measure changes in the massive ice sheet and sea ice. Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger (Photography courtesy NASA Images)

Overview

Instrument Details

Lidar
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Backscatter
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Planetary Boundary Layer Height
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Lidar > Lidar Backscatter
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Lidar
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Optical Depth/thickness
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Lidar > Lidar Depolarization Ratio
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Altitude > Planetary Boundary Layer Height
Full Column Profile
30-60 s
3 m
281.7 THz, 563.5 THz
Currently unavailable

  • Kevin Strawbridge

  • Kevin Strawbridge

  • Meteorological Service of Canada

  • Currently unavailable

  • Currently unavailable

    • Unpublished

Instrument Operation

PAC2001

Pacific 2001 Air Quality Study

2001
Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada
view all deployment dates
1 Deployment
· 8 Data Products

Data Products