Tech Talk

October 2005

Sensor Measures Multiple Cloud Layers

Edited by Robert H. Williams

An improved laser ceilometer—which can measure up to four layers of cloud cover from zero to 30,000 feet—has been unveiled by All Weather Inc., of Sacramento, Calif. The airport weather sensor relies on advanced signal processing algorithms and eye-safe light detection and ranging optical radar.

The ceilometer is designed to produce accurate imagery in varied weather conditions including fog cover and torrential downpours. A company spokesman says the system could detect wisps of clouds “with a resolution of 12.5 feet over the full range of the sensor. Both vertical visibility and ground-based obscurations can be reported while locating higher layers of clouds.”