Improvement of Long Range Doppler LIDARs of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO)

Improvement of Long Range Doppler LIDARs of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO)

Ikuya Kakimoto^*1*3, Yutaka Kajiyama^*1, Jong-Sung Ha^*2, Hong-Il Kim^*2

*1 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, 8-1-1 Tsukaguchi Honmachi, Amagasaki-city, 661-8661, Japan

*2 Korea Aerospace Research Institute, 169-84 Gwahangno, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-806, Korea

*3 Corresponding author: Kakimoto.Ikuya@eb.MitsubishiElectric.co.jp

1. Introduction

MELCO developed the Long Range Coherent Doppler LIDARs (CDLS) for atmospheric observation in 2003, and has been supplying the 2nd generation model named ‘DIABREZZA A series’ since 2013 for microburst / wind shear detection uses at airports as well as atmospheric observation uses. In 2016, MELCO has improved to add a new functions for zenith observation and KARI, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, is conducting evaluation observation.

2. Wind turbulence observation

DIABREZZA A series have been employed for microburst / wind shear detection under no precipitation condition for several international airports such as Tokyo, Narita, Hong Kong. And MELCO has recently made a contract with Beijing New International Airport and scheduled to deliver in 2018. DIABREZZA employs MDPP, Mitsubishi Data Processing Program, developed by Japan Meteorological Agency and MELCO. That provides well proven low level wind shear detection performance. Observation based wind shear alert messages are automatically generated and provided for use in the ATC offices.

3. Functional improvement for upper air observation

A new function for zenith observation with an altitude of 10 km or more has been developed in response to KARI’s requirement. The observation performance evaluation by data comparison with DIABREZZA and radio sonde or ground wind sensors are carried out by KARI, and the latest result shows that DIABREZZA has excellent observation performance up to height of 12 km in no precipitation condition. The Correlation Coefficient of wind speed between DIABREZZA and radio sonde was 0.98 on average for 25 times trials and that of wind direction was 0.87. This result breaks down the conventional common sense that LIDARs can observe only up to the altitude of boundary layer, and it is expected that further use of LIDARs will be expanded.

4. Conclusion

In addition to the conventional low level wind shear detection function, the DIABREZZA series has had a new function for upper air observation up to an altitude of 10 km or more. DIABREZZA has proved to be a very useful device for upper air observation. From now on, KARI is expected to develop new applications for DIABREZZA.