Fiber optics in meteorological instrumentation suites

Carvel E. Holton; Matthew J. Parker

doi:10.1117/12.372949

9 December 1999 Fiber optics in meteorological instrumentation suites

Carvel E. Holton, Matthew J. Parker

Proceedings Volume 3860, Fiber Optic Sensor Technology and Applications; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.372949
Event: Photonics East '99, 1999, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

Standard meteorological sensors and sensor suites used for weather and environmental monitoring are currently based primarily on electronic instrumentation that is frequently susceptible to destruction and/or interruption from natural (e.g. lightning) and man-made sources of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI). The cost of replacement or shielding of these systems is high in terms of frequency of replacement and the incipient capital cost. Sensors based on optical fibers have been developed in sufficient variety as to allow the development of full meteorological instrumentation suitess based on individual or multiplexed optical fiber sensors. Examples of sensing functions which can be implemented using optical fibers include: wine speed (cup anemometers & Doppler lidars), wind direction (vanes & lidars), temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, accumulated precipitation and precipitation rate (fiber lidar). Suites of such sensors are capable of using little or no electronics in the environmentally exposed regions, substantially reducing system EMI susceptibility and adding functional capability. The current presentation seeks to explore options available in such meteorological suites and examine the issues in their design and deployment. Performance data on several newer fiber sensors suitable to meteorological use will be presented and discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Carvel E. Holton and Matthew J. Parker "Fiber optics in meteorological instrumentation suites", Proc. SPIE 3860, Fiber Optic Sensor Technology and Applications, (9 December 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.372949

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