{"projectId":14711,"project":{"projectId":14711,"title":"Methane Lidar Transmitter Development for Space","startDate":"2013-10-01","startYear":2013,"startMonth":10,"endDate":"2018-09-01","endYear":2018,"endMonth":9,"programId":153,"program":{"ableToSelect":false,"acronym":"GSFC IRAD","isActive":true,"description":"

Goddard's IRAD program is managed under Goddard's Office of Chief Technologist.  Activities are coordinated in collaboration with the Sciences and Exploration Directorate; Applied Engineering and Technology Directorate; Flight Projects Directorate; Wallops Flight Facility; New Opportunites Office; SBIR/STTR program; Goddard Strategic Partnerships Office; and the Export Compliance Office.

IRAD provides"seed funding" to develop concepts, reduce technology risk, and advance human capital and technological capabilities.  The program is highly competitive, opportunity-driven, and 100% strategically aligned with NASA's and GSFC's strategic priorities.  A significant portion of the program is focused on Early Stage Innovations for high-risk, strategically aligned, potential high-payoff technologies that are longer-term or lower TRL.

","parentProgram":{"ableToSelect":false,"acronym":"IRAD","isActive":true,"programId":87,"responsibleMd":{"canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":""},"title":"Center Independent Research & Development","manageGaps":false,"acronymOrTitle":"IRAD"},"parentProgramId":87,"programId":153,"responsibleMd":{"organizationId":4910,"organizationName":"Mission Support Directorate","acronym":"MSD","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdOffice":4910,"title":"Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD","manageGaps":false,"acronymOrTitle":"GSFC IRAD"},"acronym":"","description":"

The objective of this work is to advance the technology readiness level (TRL) of lidar system to enable global Methane (CH4) and water vapor (H2O) measurements with sufficient coverage, sensitivity, and precision to address pressing science questions for climate-carbon interaction. Methane (CH4) is the second most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas with approximately 25 times the radiative forcing of CO2 per molecule. Natural sources of CH4 are dominated by wetland emissions in the tropics and Arctic and sub-Arctic boreal regions, with additional contributions from termites, ruminants, ocean biology, and a geological source of unknown significance. Natural sources account for about one-third of the emission total. The wetland source is particularly variable, linked to temperature, precipitation, and surface hydrological changes. Better characterization of the wetland source clearly requires reliable CH4 measurements in the often-cloudy tropics and over partially inundated land surfaces and open water. Another important science question is in the potential release of large amounts of stored organic carbon as CH4 and CO2 from thawing Arctic permafrost soils, which is cause for concern as a rapid, positive greenhouse gas/climate feedback. In addition, large but greatly uncertain amounts of CH4 are sequestered as gas hydrates in shallow oceans and permafrost soils, which are also subject to potential rapid release. Although these boreal, phase-change driven sources are not yet estimated to be large, their potential magnitude and rapid growth dictate that measurement systems need to be put in place for early detection. Because CH4 fluxes, as well as chemical loss, are tightly coupled to hydrology, coordinated measurement of both CH4 and H2O are highly desired. Precise, seasonal measurements with coverage at high latitudes (i.e., in low sun to dark conditions) are required. Our proposed laser remote sensing technology will be a key step in fostering measurements of CH4 and H2O with sufficient coverage, sampling, and precision to address major science questions.

Our proposed laser remote sensing technology will be a key step in fostering measurements of CH4 and H2O with sufficient coverage, sampling, and precision to address these and other science issues. The benefit to future Earth Science missions is that the proposed technology enables global CH4 measurements to be made where they are really needed: in the absence of sunlight (i.e., at night and at high latitudes in all seasons), in the presence of scattered or optically thin clouds and aerosols, over land and water surfaces, and with higher accuracy and precision than currently available. These qualities are precisely those that make the corresponding H2O measurements a valuable addition to the current operational suite for weather and climate analysis. The measurements will help satisfy the critical scientific need to understand the behavior of greenhouse gases as they contribute to climate change as well as to meet pressing national needs for development of a national carbon monitoring system serving science, policy-makers, and stakeholders.

The end goal of the project would be to demonstrate the readiness of the a CH4 trace gas lidar instrument for space flight. The target wavelengths and energies are ~1.65 µm and energy is ~500 µJ. The specific objectives of this project are to:

  1. Improve the tunability architecture of the seed laser(s) using two different designs.
    1. The first design uses a DBR laser at 1651 nm to be delivered under an STMD Game Changing Technology program.
    2. The second design uses a novel approach: single or dual sideband (SSB/DSB) tuning. It has the potential to significantly simplify the seed laser design and uses existing DFB lasers.
  2. Demonstrate 500 µJ in Er:YGG/Er:YAG with narrow linewidth.
  3. Reduce the size and complexity of the existing OPO
  4. Use the tunable seed from objective 1 with the OPO and Er:YAG from objectives 2 and 3 to demonstrate open path CH4 measurements and correlate them with an in-situ calibrated instrument (Picarro in-situ CH4 analyzer).
","benefits":"

Orbital or sub-orbital Earth Venture missions or a future ASCENDS mission to measure greehouse gas mixing ratios in the atmosphere.

Space flight laser technology development

","releaseStatus":"Released","status":"Completed","viewCount":819,"destinationType":["Earth","Mars","Others_Inside_the_Solar_System"],"trlBegin":2,"trlCurrent":4,"trlEnd":5,"lastUpdated":"12/02/25","favorited":false,"detailedFunding":false,"projectContacts":[{"contactId":322637,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Matthew","lastName":"Mcgill","fullName":"Matthew Mcgill","fullNameInverted":"Mcgill, Matthew","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Project_Manager","projectContactId":8416,"projectId":14711,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Project Manager"},{"contactId":491721,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"William","lastName":"Cutlip","fullName":"William E Cutlip","fullNameInverted":"Cutlip, William E","middleInitial":"E","email":"william.e.cutlip@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Project_Manager","projectContactId":8324,"projectId":14711,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Project Manager"},{"contactId":175253,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Haris","lastName":"Riris","fullName":"Haris Riris","fullNameInverted":"Riris, Haris","email":"haris.riris-1@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Principal_Investigator","projectContactId":42349,"projectId":14711,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Principal Investigator"},{"contactId":267991,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Kenji","lastName":"Numata","fullName":"Kenji Numata","fullNameInverted":"Numata, Kenji","email":"kenji.numata-1@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Co_Investigator","projectContactId":19777,"projectId":14711,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Co-Investigator"},{"contactId":450528,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Stewart","lastName":"Wu","fullName":"Stewart T Wu","fullNameInverted":"Wu, Stewart T","middleInitial":"T","email":"stewart.t.wu@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","projectContactRole":"Co_Investigator","projectContactId":19780,"projectId":14711,"programContactRolePretty":"","projectContactRolePretty":"Co-Investigator"}],"programContacts":[{"contactId":43382,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Bhanu","lastName":"Sood","fullName":"Bhanu P Sood","fullNameInverted":"Sood, Bhanu P","middleInitial":"P","email":"bhanu.sood@nasa.gov","receiveEmail":"Subscribed_User","programContactRole":"Program_Manager","programContactId":395,"programId":153,"programContactRolePretty":"Program Manager","projectContactRolePretty":""}],"leadOrganization":{"organizationId":4947,"organizationName":"Goddard Space Flight Center","acronym":"GSFC","organizationType":"NASA_Center","city":"Greenbelt","stateTerritoryId":3,"stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"MD","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Maryland","stateTerritoryId":3,"isTerritory":false},"country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"zipCode":"20771","projectId":14711,"projectOrganizationId":25737,"organizationRole":"Lead_Organization","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"Lead Organization","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Center"},"otherOrganizations":[{"organizationId":4947,"organizationName":"Goddard Space Flight Center","acronym":"GSFC","organizationType":"NASA_Center","city":"Greenbelt","stateTerritoryId":3,"stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"MD","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Maryland","stateTerritoryId":3,"isTerritory":false},"country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"zipCode":"20771","projectId":14711,"projectOrganizationId":25737,"organizationRole":"Lead_Organization","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"Lead Organization","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Center"},{"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","acronym":"STMD","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","projectId":14711,"projectOrganizationId":9072,"organizationRole":"Cofunding_Partner","canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"Cofunding Partner","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"}],"primaryTx":{"taxonomyNodeId":11221,"taxonomyRootId":8817,"parentNodeId":11216,"code":"TX08.1.5","title":"Lasers","description":"Passive laser technologies, such as laser heterodyne radiometry, can involve low-power elements such as distributive feedback (DFB) lasers. Active laser systems that pass through the atmosphere to make a measurement, such as light detecting and ranging (LIDAR), require higher-powered laser elements.","exampleTechnologies":"Pulsed lasers, and the electro-optical components that support them like fibers, gratings, crystals, laser diodes, electro-optical modulators, nanolasers","level":3,"hasChildren":false,"selected":false,"isPrimary":true,"hasInteriorContent":true},"primaryTxTree":[[{"taxonomyNodeId":11215,"taxonomyRootId":8817,"code":"TX08","title":"Sensors and Instruments","level":1,"hasChildren":true,"selected":false,"hasInteriorContent":true},{"taxonomyNodeId":11216,"taxonomyRootId":8817,"parentNodeId":11215,"code":"TX08.1","title":"Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors","description":"Remote sensing instruments and sensors include components, sensors, and instruments that are sensitive to electromagnetic radiation; particles (charged, neutral, dust); electromagnetic fields, both direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC); acoustic energy; seismic energy; and whatever physical phenomenology the science requires. These instruments and sensors can be active or passive devices, depending on the measurement regime and detection technology.","level":2,"hasChildren":true,"selected":false,"hasInteriorContent":true},{"taxonomyNodeId":11221,"taxonomyRootId":8817,"parentNodeId":11216,"code":"TX08.1.5","title":"Lasers","description":"Passive laser technologies, such as laser heterodyne radiometry, can involve low-power elements such as distributive feedback (DFB) lasers. Active laser systems that pass through the atmosphere to make a measurement, such as light detecting and ranging (LIDAR), require higher-powered laser elements.","exampleTechnologies":"Pulsed lasers, and the electro-optical components that support them like fibers, gratings, crystals, laser diodes, electro-optical modulators, nanolasers","level":3,"hasChildren":false,"selected":true,"hasInteriorContent":true}]],"technologyOutcomes":[],"primaryImage":{"file":{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":4075,"presignedUpload":false,"fileSizeString":"0 Byte"},"libraryItemId":3303,"description":"Airborne Lidar for Methane Measurements Project (CH4 LIDAR)","projectId":14711,"publishedDateString":"","libraryItemTypePretty":"","entryDateString":"","modifiedDateString":""},"libraryItems":[{"file":{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":4075,"fileName":"riris","fileSize":134398,"objectId":3303,"objectType":"libraryItemFiles","presignedUpload":false,"fileSizeString":"131.2 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":4075,"fileName":"riris","fileSize":134398,"objectId":3303,"objectType":"libraryItemFiles","presignedUpload":false,"fileSizeString":"131.2 KB"}],"libraryItemId":3303,"title":"Airborne Lidar for Methane Measurements Project (CH4 LIDAR)","description":"Airborne Lidar for Methane Measurements Project (CH4 LIDAR)","libraryItemType":"Image","projectId":14711,"isPrimary":true,"internalOnly":false,"publishedDateString":"","libraryItemTypePretty":"Image","entryDateString":"01/22/25 01:10 AM","modifiedDateString":"04/03/18 05:21 PM"},{"files":[],"libraryItemId":1430,"title":"Airborne measurements of atmospheric methane column abundance using a pulsed integrated-path differential absorption lidar","libraryItemType":"Link","url":"http://www.opticsinfobase.org/ao/fulltext.cfm?uri=ao-51-34-8296&id=246472","projectId":14711,"internalOnly":false,"publishedDateString":"","libraryItemTypePretty":"Link","entryDateString":"01/22/25 01:10 AM","modifiedDateString":"04/03/18 05:21 PM"},{"file":{"fileExtension":"pptx","fileId":25995,"fileName":"CH4 Techport","fileSize":15143672,"objectId":34305,"objectType":"libraryItemFiles","presignedUpload":false,"fileSizeString":"14.4 MB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"pptx","fileId":25995,"fileName":"CH4 Techport","fileSize":15143672,"objectId":34305,"objectType":"libraryItemFiles","presignedUpload":false,"fileSizeString":"14.4 MB"}],"libraryItemId":34305,"title":"CH4 Instrument onthe DC-8","description":"

The Airborne Methane Lidar on the DC-8 during our 2015 flight campaign 

","libraryItemType":"Document","projectId":14711,"isPrimary":false,"internalOnly":false,"publishedDateString":"","libraryItemTypePretty":"Document","entryDateString":"01/22/25 01:10 AM","modifiedDateString":"05/29/18 04:32 PM"},{"files":[],"libraryItemId":3378,"title":"Fast-switching methane lidar transmitter based on a seeded optical parametric oscillator","libraryItemType":"Link","url":"http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00340-014-5783-4","projectId":14711,"internalOnly":false,"publishedDateString":"","libraryItemTypePretty":"Link","entryDateString":"01/22/25 01:10 AM","modifiedDateString":"04/03/18 05:21 PM"},{"files":[],"libraryItemId":27623,"title":"Fast-switching methane lidar transmitter based on a seeded optical parametric oscillator","libraryItemType":"Link","url":"http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00340-014-5783-4#/page-1","projectId":14711,"internalOnly":false,"publishedDateString":"","libraryItemTypePretty":"Link","entryDateString":"01/22/25 01:10 AM","modifiedDateString":"04/03/18 05:21 PM"},{"files":[],"libraryItemId":21581,"title":"GSC-17281-1","libraryItemType":"Link","url":"https://ntts.arc.nasa.gov/app/","projectId":14711,"internalOnly":false,"publishedDateString":"","libraryItemTypePretty":"Link","entryDateString":"01/22/25 01:10 AM","modifiedDateString":"04/03/18 05:21 PM"},{"file":{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":28170,"fileName":"034001(1)","fileSize":3287317,"objectId":37355,"objectType":"libraryItemFiles","presignedUpload":false,"fileSizeString":"3.1 MB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":28170,"fileName":"034001(1)","fileSize":3287317,"objectId":37355,"objectType":"libraryItemFiles","presignedUpload":false,"fileSizeString":"3.1 MB"}],"libraryItemId":37355,"title":"Methane optical density measurements with an integrated path differential absorption lidar from an airborne platform","libraryItemType":"Document","projectId":14711,"publishedBy":"Journal of","publishedDate":"2017-09-01T00:00:00","internalOnly":false,"publishedDateString":"09/01/17 12:00 AM","libraryItemTypePretty":"Document","entryDateString":"01/22/25 01:10 AM","modifiedDateString":"04/03/18 05:21 PM"},{"files":[],"libraryItemId":27624,"title":"Optical Parametric Technology for Methane Measurements","libraryItemType":"Link","url":"http://proceedings.spiedigitallibrary.org/proceeding.aspx?articleid=2436042","projectId":14711,"internalOnly":false,"publishedDateString":"","libraryItemTypePretty":"Link","entryDateString":"01/22/25 01:10 AM","modifiedDateString":"04/03/18 05:21 PM"},{"files":[],"libraryItemId":314263,"title":"Project Website","libraryItemType":"Link","url":"http://sciences.gsfc.nasa.gov/sed/","projectId":14711,"internalOnly":false,"publishedDateString":"","libraryItemTypePretty":"Link","entryDateString":"01/22/25 01:10 AM","modifiedDateString":"10/25/24 02:23 PM"}],"states":[{"abbreviation":"CA","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"California","stateTerritoryId":59,"isTerritory":false},{"abbreviation":"MD","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Maryland","stateTerritoryId":3,"isTerritory":false}],"endDateString":"Sep 2018","startDateString":"Oct 2013"}}