LAUSR

This article discusses the resolution of an optical lidar for measuring the background concentration of methane in the Earth’s atmosphere. Using simulation and experimental studies, it has been shown that a resolution the width of the absorption line of which is ~0.006 nm and that has a concentration of methane of ~6% of the background can be obtained with a signal-to-noise ratio for received signals of ~200. When extrapolating the results to orbital measurements, the horizontal resolution will be ~8 km and the vertical resolution will be ~1.5 km. A broadening of the emission line of the lidar transmitter by a factor of 2–3 does not significantly reduce the resolution of the lidar, which makes it possible to increase the radiated power at the considered wavelength of ~1653 nm and improve the energy potential of the device as a whole.