SBIR-STTR Award

The Sound speed, SALinity, and Temperature (SALT) LiDAR will make depth-resolved measurements of sound speed in water without prior knowledge of the waters salinity or temperature. This will be achieved by performing high-speed Brillouin spectroscopic measurements of LiDAR backscatter from an airborne platform. The SALT LiDAR builds on decades of Michigan Aerospace Corporations experience building atmospheric LiDAR technology and will provide a hands-free depth-resolved measurement of marine and freshwater sound speed, salinity, and temperature for acoustic propagation applications.

Benefit:
Knowledge of sound speed, salinity, and temperature as a function of depth is required in a variety of sonar and ocean science applications. Beyond the immediate needs of the Navy, there is a strong need in the hydrographic survey community for measurements of sound speed in the water column. Accurate and real-time knowledge of sound speed vs. depth from a shipborne SALT LiDAR would allow hydrographic survey crews to measure wider sonar swaths and stop less often for CTD measurements saving considerable time, hassle, and money. Beyond sonar applications, depth-resolved information about salinity and temperature is essential in marine and freshwater sciences for understanding the dynamics of the water and the life that lives within it.

Keywords:
Brillouin, Brillouin, Depth Resolved, Sound Speed, SALINITY, temperature, LIDAR