Laser Probing the Lower Atmosphere

SYNGE1first suggested in 1930 that density measurements could be made of the lower atmosphere by observing the light scattered from the beam of a search-light. Elterman2in 1950 and onwards has operated the method in New Mexico with many improvements of the techniques. Fiocco and Smullins3in 1963 substituted a laser beam for the search-light beam and achieved comparable results. The equipment used in the experiments described here was planned in 1962 and erected in Kingston, Jamaica, 18° N., 77° W.