High-resolution LIDAR sensor MiniMPL

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Overview
The Mini Micro Pulse LiDAR (MiniMPL) is a ground-based, low-power elastic backscatter lidar designed for continuous cloud and aerosol profiling. It transmits laser pulses into the atmosphere and records time-resolved backscatter to determine cloud altitude, layer structure and aerosol distribution in real time. MiniMPL systems are validated and approved for major atmospheric networks and programs.

Features and benefits

• Advanced single-photon-counting detectors — Provide high-sensitivity atmospheric profiling including planetary boundary layer and cloud layers to ~15 km.
• Patented polarization switching — Enables simultaneous co-polarized and cross-polarized measurements for cloud-phase discrimination (liquid vs ice).
• High signal-to-noise ratio — Improves layer detection compared with ceilometers, enabling observation through moderate fog and low clouds with enhanced range resolution and faster reporting.
• Comprehensive data products — Profiles support cloud phase and depolarizing aerosol retrievals, scattering cross sections, optical thicknesses, PBL heights, and aerosol extinction profiles, including nocturnal/stratospheric cases.
• Field-ready design — Solid-state laser with >10,000 h service life, 80 mm coaxial transmit/receive aperture, and field-replaceable fiber-coupled photon-counting detector with no realignment required.
• Lifecycle support — Programs available to maintain long-term instrument integrity and calibrated performance.

Technology

• Pulsed LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging): transmits laser pulses and measures time-resolved backscatter to locate clouds and aerosols in real time.
• Transmit path: laser → beam expansion → polarization orientation → telescope output producing co-pol and cross-pol states.
• Receive path: backscattered light is collected, routed back through the optics and focused onto the photon-counting detector for time-resolved measurement.

Main applications

• Planetary boundary layer characterization
• Air pollution and aerosol monitoring
• Weather modification research
• Volcanic ash detection and studies
• Wildfire plume monitoring and prediction
• Urban air quality monitoring and forecasting
• Aviation safety and operational decision support

MPL Software
The included MPL software suite supports real-time data acquisition and playback analysis.

• Data acquisition mode — Configure lidar parameters (laser energy, integration time, range resolution), generate raw and R-squared corrected profiles, normalized relative backscatter (NRB), housekeeping data and real-time cloud/aerosol/PBL information.
• Playback mode — Retrieve and interpret stored files, analyze long time series for trends, and export results to external tools (e.g., Excel, MATLAB).

Accessories

• MiniMPL Scanner
• GPS (GIS Package)
• All-sky Camera
• Weather Station

Technical characteristics / specifications

• Range resolution: 5 / 15 / 30 / 75 m (software programmable)
• Minimum range: 100 m
• Accumulation time: 1 second – 15 minutes
• Detection range: typically to 15 km
• Polarization: co-pol and cross-pol capability
• Scanning: optional
• Laser wavelength: 532 nm
• Laser pulse energy: 3 – 4 μJ @ 2500 Hz
• Eye-safety: ANSI Z136.1 2000, IEC 60825
• Receiver diameter: 80 mm
• Pump laser diode: guaranteed 10,000 hours
• Detector: fiber-coupled, user-replaceable photon-counting detector
• Size (HxWxD): 240 x 305 x 480 mm
• Weight (portability): 13 kg
• Operating system (for MPL software): Windows 7 / 10
• Computer interface: USB
• Data transfer: LAN Ethernet
• Operating temperature: +17°C to +35°C
• Humidity range: 0 to 80%
• Supply: 110–240 VAC, 50–60 Hz
• Power consumption: 100 W