Relationship between wind observation accuracy and the ascending node of the sun-synchronous orbit for the Aeolus-type spaceborne Doppler wind lidar

Abstract. The launch and operation of the first spaceborne Doppler wind lidar (DWL), Aeolus, is great significance for observing global field. Aeolus operates on a sun-synchronous dawn–dusk orbit to minimize negative impact solar background radiation (SBR) observation accuracy. Future DWLs may not operate orbits due their observational purposes. local time ascending node (LTAN) crossing accuracy was studied in this paper by proposing two given Aeolus-type operating with LTANs 15:00 12:00 LT. On these new orbits, increments averaged SBR received range from 39 56 mW m−2 sr−1 nm−1 under cloud-free skies near summer winter solstices, which will lead uncertainties 0.19 0.27 m s−1 increment Rayleigh channel observations LT using instrument parameters 30 measurements per 20 laser pulses measurement. This demonstrates that optimal scenario, random error caused be larger other orbits. Increasing pulse energy used lower uncertainties, method quantitatively design according specific requirements proposed study based relationship between signal-to-noise ratio uncertainty response function channel. energies should set 70 mJ statistical results obtained method. same as those Aeolus. Based parameters, accuracies about 77.19 % 74.71 bins would meet European Space Agency (ESA) These values are very close 76.46 an DWL when it free SBR. Moreover, 2.62 2.69 s−1, perform better than (2.77 s−1).