design and build custom lasers for
various applications
developing control techniques to enhance
the performance of lasers
developing unique tunable diode pumped
solid state lasers
developing high power tunable sources
based on injection seeded taper diode amplifiers
Remote Sensing – Carbon sequestration site
monitoring (ZERT)
being developed to mitigate increasing
levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide due to fossil fuel use
needed to ensure carbon sequestration
site integrity
an above ground monitoring instrument has
been tested and it is able to see the elevated carbon dioxide levels
resulting from the injection
a below ground monitoring instrument has
been tested; it is able to see the elevated carbon dioxide levels
resulting from the injection and can monitor the CO2 dynamics as it
travels through the ground
Remote Sensing – Atmospheric Studies
The applied optics group is developing a suite of remote sensing
instruments to study the interaction of aerosols, water vapor and
clouds. Aerosols and water vapor can affect the microstructure of
clouds leading to a negative radiative forcing on the climate system
while aerosols and water vapor can interact with the incoming solar
radiation producing an enhanced greenhouse effect or a cooling effect,
depending on the aerosol species and its hygroscopic effect. These
effects, referred to as the aerosol indirect and aerosol direct
effects, produce the largest uncertainty in global climate modeling.
active instruments include two-color
backscatter lidar, micropulse lidar, diode based differential
absorption lidar, and high spectral reesolution lidar
passive instruments include solar
photometers and pyranometers.
Remote Sensing – Spectral Imaging
A typical reflectance spectrum associated
with green vegetation will change for different plant species or as
plants become stressed. Current work is aimed at using reflectance
spectra for noxious weed mapping and plant health studies.
Noxious weed mapping will utilize a
hyperspectral imager deployed on a UAV and is a collaborative project
with Resonon.
Using statistical techniques, we have
developed classification trees to classify vegetation as healthy or
unhealthy over time. Plants near the carbon dioxide well were stressed
due to the increase in underground carbon dioxide. This stress was seen
by the hyperspectral imager.
About the ECE Department
