Anticipated scientific advances with the LAWS instrument

A Doppler lidar wind sounder is currently the only instrument that can provide the direct measurement of the global, tropospheric wind field, which is fundamental to advancing our understanding and prediction of possible climate change and would significantly increase the skill of numerical weather Forecasts. NASA has successfully completed Phase B (definition) studies for a space-based Doppler lidar, referred to as the Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder (LAWS) instrument. The status of the LAWS program and the importance of global winds for weather and climate prediction is discussed.<>