SBIR/STTR Award attributes
The Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) is the layer of atmosphere bordering the surface of the earth and represents the greatest importance to human activities. It is also the most difficult layer of the atmosphere to measure directly. These dual properties of high importance yet difficulty of measurement have led some people in the atmospheric profiling community to call a space-based measurement approach to a complete profile of PBL properties the Holy Grail of atmospheric profiling. In recent years it has received tremendous attention given the importance and difficulty of the problem. According to the NASA PBL Incubation Study Team Report: “A global Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) observing system is urgently needed to address fundamental PBL science questions and societal applications related to weather, climate, and air quality” [Teixeira, J. et al, 2021]. In addition to the needs outlined in the report, 4S experience in developing Free Space Optical Communication (FSOC) devices under contract from NAVAIR has led to an understanding that the technology stands to benefit from high resolution models and forecasts to predict atmospheric conditions that degrade laser beam quality. The Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer (MABL) has greater complications with high variability over a wide range of temporal and spatial scales due to high horizontal heterogeneity introduced by mesoscale ocean phenomena. Additionally, in situ observations of the MABL are sparse when compared to land based in situ observations. A complete observational approach that accounts for the ocean, the MABL thermodynamic structure, and clouds is required to properly profile the MABL.
