# US 9,037,413 B1 · System and method of visualization of species characterization, dynamics and stratification of the magnetosphere > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,037,413 B1 - Document ID: US9037413B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 12/902,481 - Filed: 2010-10-12 - Granted: 2015-05-19 - Earliest claimed: 2010-10-12 - Assignees: Exelis, Inc. - Applicants: Christopher T. Rodgers; Omid E. Kia - Inventors: Christopher T. Rodgers; Omid E. Kia - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9037413B1 ## CPC - G01S 17/95: for meteorological use - G01N 21/39: using tunable lasers - G01N 21/6404: {Atomic fluorescence} - G01S 13/95: for meteorological use - G01S 17/88: Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications - G01S 17/89: for mapping or imaging - G01N 2021/6406: {multi-element} - Y02A 90/10: Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract A method for collecting data of species in the magnetosphere includes the steps of: (a) tuning at least one laser to spectral indices of targeted atomic or molecular species located in the magnetosphere; and (b) measuring fluorescence radiation from each of the targeted species, in response to the tuning step. The method determines range to each of the targeted species. The method geo-locates the species with respect to the Earth to provide a registered map of the targeted species in three dimensions (3D) with respect to the Earth; and temporally trends each of the targeted species to provide the registered map in four dimensions (4D). The method may also determine abundance from multiple wavelengths returned from the fluorescence radiation of the targeted species. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for collecting data of species in the magnetosphere comprising the steps of: (a) tuning at least one laser to spectral indices of targeted atomic or molecular species located in the magnetosphere; (b) measuring fluorescence radiation from each of the targeted species, in response to the tuning step; (c) determining range to each of the targeted species; and (d) collecting data from the fluorescence radiation for stratifying the targeted species in sequential layers with respect to the Earth. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) includes measuring scattered radiation from each of the targeted species, in response to the tuning step; and step (c) includes normalizing the fluorescence radiation based on the scattered radiation; and determining the range from the normalized fluorescence radiation to each targeted species. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) includes tuning at least two lasers to multiple wavelengths; and step (b) includes determining abundance from the multiple wavelengths returned from the fluorescence radiation of the targeted species. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 including the step of: collecting data from the fluorescence radiation for determining temperature of the targeted species. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 including the step of: collecting data from the fluorescence radiation for determining drift velocity of the targeted species. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 including the steps of: scanning the laser in azimuth and elevation to obtain a 2-dimensional location of the targeted species; and obtaining a 3-dimensional location of the targeted species, after determining the range in step (c). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of tuning, measuring and determining of steps (a), (b) and (c), respectively, are performed in a space location, on an Earth location, or in both locations. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein at least one laser is located in space and another laser is located on the Earth. ### Claim 9 A method for obtaining data related to species in the magnetosphere comprising the steps of: a) tuning at least one laser to spectral indices of targeted atomic or molecular species located in the magnetosphere; b) measuring instantaneous scattering and fluorescence radiation from the targeted species, in response to the tuning step; c) determining dynamic range to each of the targeted species producing the scattered radiation; d) determining dynamic normalization of the fluorescence radiation from the scattered radiation; and e) determining dynamic range based on the normalized fluorescence radiation to each of the targeted species. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the step of tuning the laser includes scanning the laser to different wavelengths based on the targeted species. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further including one, or more than one, of the following steps: identifying the targeted species, based on returned wavelengths of the radiation; determining changes in stratification of the targeted species as a function of time; determining changes in abundance of the targeted species as a function of time; determining changes in temperature of the targeted species as a function of time; and determining changes in drift velocity of the targeted species as a function of time. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 including the step of: using a mathematical model to determine the changes of the targeted species as a function of time. ### Claim 13 A method for collecting data of species in the magnetosphere comprising the steps of: (a) tuning at least one laser to spectral indices of targeted atomic or molecular species located in the magnetosphere; (b) measuring fluorescence radiation from each of the targeted species, in response to the tuning step; and (c) determining range to each of the targeted species; wherein the steps of tuning, measuring and determining of steps (a), (b) and (c), respectively, are performed in a space location, on an Earth location, or in both locations. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein step (b) includes measuring scattered radiation from each of the targeted species, in response to the tuning step; and step (c) includes normalizing the fluorescence radiation based on the scattered radiation; and determining the range from the normalized fluorescence radiation to each targeted species. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein step (a) includes tuning at least two lasers to multiple wavelengths; and step (b) includes determining abundance from the multiple wavelengths returned from the fluorescence radiation of the targeted species. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 including the step of: collecting data from the fluorescence radiation for stratifying the targeted species in sequential layers with respect to the Earth. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 including the step of: collecting data from the fluorescence radiation for determining temperature of the targeted species. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 including the step of: collecting data from the fluorescence radiation for determining drift velocity of the targeted species. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 including the steps of: scanning the laser in azimuth and elevation to obtain a 2-dimensional location of the targeted species; and obtaining a 3-dimensional location of the targeted species, after determining the range in step (c). ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein at least one laser is located in space and another laser is located on the Earth.