Lidar Instrument for Salinity and Temperature detection in the Ocean (LISTO) (LISTO)

Demonstrate the performance of an instrument capable of deriving vertical profiles of temperature and salinity. The work proposed here leverages capability and experience at both GSFC and LaRC, thereby increasing the likelihood of successfully achieving this measurement. The prototypes will be tank tested first with the ultimate goals of deploying them first on an aircraft and boats to demonstrate the feasibility and potential challenges to eventually have an instrument measuring these two variables from space. These data can in turn be assimilated into operational modeling, including for weather forecast (e.g., hurricane prediction), short-term prediction of currents (e.g., offshore oil spills), seasonal-to-interannual forecasting (e.g., El Niño) and initializing of decadal predictions of ocean/atmosphere climate system (such as those of the IPCC).

Increase scientific understanding of natural phenomena using remote sensing.

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