Depth-resolved temperature measurements of water using the Brillouin lidar technique

Coupling between the atmosphere and the ocean takes place predominantly in the upper ocean mixed layer. Knowledge of the temperature profile in this region is therefore of particular interest. In this paper we report a successful measurement of a temperature distribution in a water tube based on Brillouin scattering with a fiber amplifier as the light source. It represents an important step towards the practical implementation of a lidar system for field use. Such a system could provide cost-effective on-line data over an extended region of the ocean and has potential impact to studies concerning climate, oceanography, weather forecasting and hurricane movements.