Airborne Remote Sensing of Earth Surface Signatures with the DIALEX Instrument

The Airborne DIALEX instrument /1/ is an active single-ended dual-wavelength sensor. At present it is equipped with two line-tunable cw CO2 lasers and employs heterodyne detection. The return signal is provided by scattering and reflection at the earth's surface. The processed signal takes the form Filtering the differential albedo effect provides a new exciting possibility for active remote sensing of earth surface spectral signatures. Instruments of the DIALEX-type are well suited for this purpose because the coherent detection scheme provides the required sensitivity even at high flight altitudes.