Remote Sensing using lasers and lidar
Space Lidar and Ranging Systems
Positions and Appointments
Senior Scientist for Laser Sensing, Solar System Exploration Division, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Instrument Scientist - Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) Instrument on NASA ICESat Mission.
Principal Investigator - "Laser Sounder for Atmospheric CO2 Measurements from Orbit" NASA Earth Science IIP Program.
Co-Investigator - "Push-broom Laser Altimeter Demonstration for Space-based Cryospheric Topographic and Surface Property Mapping", NASA Earth Science IIP Program.
Principal Investogator - "Fiber Lasers for Planetary Applications," Goddard IRAD program, 2007.
Advisory Board Member - ICESa/tGLAS Anomaly Review Board (IGARB and GARB)
Previous Positions at NASA Goddard:
2003-2004: Associate Chief for Sensors, Laboratory for Terrestrial Physics
1989-2003: Head, Laser Remote Sensing Branch
1987-1989: Head, Electro-Optics Tracking Systems Section, Instrument Electro-Optics Branch,
1980-1987: Senior Electrical Engineer, Electro-Optics Branch
1974-1980: Junior Electrical Engineer, Electro-Optics Branch
1971-1973: Co-op Work-Study student, Advanced Data Systems Division
2001-2005 Principal Investigator - .Mars Orbital Lidar. for NASA Planetary Instrument Definition and Development Program (PIDDP): 2001-2005
2004 Panel chair - Laser measurement approach review for Lunar Mapping (LOLA) instrument
2000-2004: Principal Investigator - .Laser Sounder Technology. for NASA Earth Science ACT Program.
1992-1997 Instrument Scientist . Mars Observer Laser Altimeter on Mars Global Surveyor Mission
1997-1999: Principal Investigator - Mars Lander Lidar (PIDDP RTOP)
1997-1998: Co-Investigator - Diode Searchlight Lidar & Diode Lidar Wind Sounder (DDF)
1994- 1996: Principal Investigator - Space Laser Ranging Instrument for Gravity and Magnetics Experiment Satellite
1995-1996 Co-Investigator - NASA/NSF Miniature Antarctic Lidar Investigation
1988-1991 Proposal team member & Electronic Subsystem Leader - Mars Observer Laser Altimeter (MOLA)
1985-1989: Group Leader- Goddard Laser Communications Laboratory
1983-1988: Research Program Manager - NASA RTOP 506-44-21, Advanced Component Research for Space Laser Communications
1987-1988: Co-Investigator -Geoscience Airborne Laser Altimeter (GALA) Instrument (GSFC DDF)
1982-1985: Principal Investigator - Multi-wavelength Laser-Based Surface Pressure Sounder (GSFC DDF)
1982-1983: Lead Engineer - Spaceborne Laser Communication Experiment, Receiver and computer
1981: Investigator - Effects of Atmospheric Refraction in Laser Ranging Systems
Education
1982 - Ph.D. University of Maryland, Electrical Engineering, Electro-Physics option
1977 - M.S. University of Maryland, Electrical Engineering
1974 - B.S. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Electrical Engineering
Professional Memberships
Optical Society of America
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
American Geophysical Union
European Geophysical Union
Special Experience
Patents:
J.B. Abshire and Xiaoli Sun "Improved modulation approach for Ranging, Altimetry and Communications," patent disclosure in prep. Sept 2007.
J.B. Abshire, "Psec Resolution Sampling Time Interval Unit," U.S. Patent 5,566,139; 1996.
J.B. Abshire, "Method and System for Determining Surface Profile Information," U.S. Patent 4,850,712; 1989.
J.B. Abshire and P.L. Fuhr, "Multipower Laser Seam Tracking System," U.S. Patent 4,806,732; 1989.
J.B. Abshire and P.L. Fuhr, "Multipower Laser Seam Tracking System," European Patent 88304139.4-; 1988.
J.B. Abshire, "Optical Distance Measuring Instrument," U.S. Patent 4,600,299; 1986.
M.W. Fitzmaurice and J.B. Abshire, "Polarization Compensator for Optical Communications," U.S. Patent 3,971,930; 1974.
Publications
2007 Xiaoli Sun, James Abshire, Michael Krainak, William Hasselbrack "Photon Counting Pseudorandom Noise Code Laser Altimeters", SPIE Advanced Photon Counting Techniques, Paper 6771-23, September 2007.
2006 X. Sun, G. A. Neumann, J. B. Abshire, and M. T. Zuber, "Mars 1064 nm spectral radiance measurements determined from the receiver noise response of the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter", Appl. Opt. 45, 3960-3971 (2006).
2005 J.B. Abshire ., X. Sun, H. Riris , J. M. Sirota, J. F. McGarry, S. Palm, D. Yi, and P. Liiva (2005), Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) on the ICESat Mission: On-orbit measurement Performance, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L21S02, doi:10.1029/2005GL024028.
2005 G. R. Allan, M. A. Krainak, A. M. Gates, J. B. Abshire. "Small lidar for remote measurements from orbit of water-vapor, cloud, and aerosol profiles", Proc. SPIE Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 5653, 228 (2005).
2004 X. Sun, M. A. Krainak, J. D. Spinhirne, J. B. Abshire, C. Trottier, M. Davies, H. Dautet, G. R. Allan, A. T. Lukemire, J. C. Vandiver, "Space qualified silicon avalanche photodiode single photon counting modules", Journal of Modern Optics, Special Issue on Photon Counting, June 2004.
2004 J. L. Machol, T. Ayers, K. T. Schwenz, K. W. Koenig, R. M. Hardesty, C. J. Senff, M. A. Krainak, J. B. Abshire, H. E. Bravo, S. P. Sandberg, "Preliminary measurements with an automated compact differential absorption lidar for the profiling of water vapor", Applied Optics Vol. 43, No. 15 pp. 3110-3121 May 20, 2004.
2003 G.A. Neuman, J.B. Abshire, O. Aharonson, J.B. Garvin, X. Sun, M.T. Zuber, "Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter pulse width measurements and footprint scale roughness", Geophysical Research Letters, 30(11) 1561, 2003.
2002 H.J. Zwally, B. Schutz, W. Abdalati, J. Abshire, C. Bentley, A. Brenner, J. Bufton, J. Dezio, D. Hancock, D. Harding, T. Herring, B. Minster, K. Quinn, S. Palm, J. Spinhirne, and R. Thomas, "ICESat.s Laser Measurements of Polar Ice, Atmosphere, Ocean, and Land", Special Issue of J. of Geodynamics on Laser Altimetry, Vol 34, pp. 405-455, October 2002.
2001 R.E. Gold, Solomon SC, McNutt RL, Santo AG, Abshire JB, Acuna MH, Afzal RS, Anderson BJ, Andrews GB, Bedini PD, Cain J, Cheng AF, Evans LG, Feldman WC, Follas RB, Gloeckler G, Goldsten JO, Hawkins SE, Izenberg NR, Jaskulek SE, Ketchum EA, Lankton MR, Lohr DA,Mauk BH, McClintock WE, Murchie SL, Schlemm CE, Smith DE, Starr RD, Zurbuchen TH, "The MESSENGER mission to Mercury: scientific payload", Planetary and Space Science, 49 (14-15): 1467-1479 Dec 2001.
2001 D.E. Smith, D.E., M.T. Zuber, H.V. Frey, J.B. Garvin, J.W. Head, D.O. Muhleman, G.H. Pettengill, R.J. Phillips, S.C. Solomon, H.J. Zwally, W.B. Banerdt, T.C. Duxbury, M.P. Golombek, F.G. Lemoine, G.A. Neumann, D.D. Rowlands, O. Aharonson, P.G. Ford, A.B. Ivanov, P.J. McGovern, J.B. Abshire, R.S. Afzal, and X. Sun, "Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA): Experiment summary after the first year of global mapping of Mars", J. Geophys. Res., 106, 23, 689-23, 722, 2001.
2000 J.B. Abshire, X. Sun and R. S. Afzal, "Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter: Receiver Model and Performance Analysis", Applied Optics, Vol 39, pp. 2449-2460, May 2000.
1999 D.E. Smith, M.T. Zuber, S.C. Solomon, R.J. Phillips, J.W. Head, J.B. Garvin, W.B. Banerdt, H.V. Frey, D.O. Muhleman, G.H. Pettengill, G.A. Neumann, F.G. Lemoine, J.B. Abshire, O. Aharonson, C.D. Brown, S.A. Hauck, A.B. Ivanov, P.J. McGovern, H.J. Zwally, T.C. Duxbury, "The Global Topography of Mars and Implications for Surface Evolution", Science, 284, 1495-1503, 1999.
1999 J.B. Garvin, J.J. Frawley and J.B. Abshire, "Vertical Roughness of Mars from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter", Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 26, pp.381-384, Feb. 1999.
Selected Conference Papers and Presentations:
2007 X. Sun, J. B. Abshire, H. Riris, D. Yi, S. P. Palm, P. L. Jester, J. F. McGarry, D. J. Harding, P. S. Millar, M. A. Krainak, 'The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) on the ICESat mission - Receiver design and on-orbit performance,' IEEE International Geoscience And Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), Barcelona, Spain, Session Fr11M, July 2007.
2007 D. J. Harding, J. B. Abshire, P. W. Dabney, T. A. Scambos, A. A. Seas, C. A. Shuman, X. Sun, 'An innovative laser altimeter for cryosphere mapping: The swath imaging multi-polarization photon-counting lidar (SIMPL),' IEEE International Geoscience And Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), Barcelona, Spain, Session Th09AF ,July 2007.
2007 J. B. Abshire, H. Riris, S. R. Kawa, X. Sun, M. Krainak, J. Mao, P. S. Jian, G. Allan, G. J. Collatz, M. Stephen, 'Laser sounder approach for global measurement of CO2 concentrations in the troposphere,' IEEE International Geoscience And Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), July 23-27, 2007, Barcelona, Spain, Session We08EP.
2007 J. B. Abshire, D. J. Harding, X. Sun, M. A. Krainak, A. A. Seas, P. W. Dabney, "Pushbroom Laser Altimetry Using Fiber Lasers and Photon Counting Detectors," Conference on Laser and Electro Optics/International Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/IQEC), May 6-11, 2007, Baltimore, MD, USA, Paper CThII1.
2007 J. B. Abshire1, H. Riris, X. Sun, M. A. Krainak., M. Stephan, R. Kawa, J. Mao, P. Jian, J. F. Burris, "Lidar Approach for Measuring the CO2 Concentrations in the Troposphere from Space," Conference on Laser and Electro Optics/International Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/IQEC), May 6-11, 2007, Baltimore, MD, USA, Paper CThII5.
2007 J. B. Abshire1, H. Riris1, G. Allan, X. Sun, J. Chen, S. R. Kawa, J. Mao, P. Jian, M. Stephan, J. F. Burris, M. A. Krainak, "Laser sounder for global measurement of Co2 concentration in the troposphere from space," 14th Coherent Laser Radar Conference, Snowmass, CO, USA, July 8-13, 2007.
2007 James B. Abshire, Haris Riris, S. Randy Kawa, Xiaoli Sun, Jeffrey Chen, Jianping Mao, Mark A. Stephen, Graham Allan, G. James Collatz, and Pey-Schuan Jian , "Laser Sounder for Global Measurement of CO2 Concentrations in the Troposphere from Space," 2007 EGU meeting, Abstract 2007-A-10014, April 2007.
2007 "Harding, J. Abshire, P. Dabney, T. Scambos, A. Seas, C. Shuman, X. Sun, "The Swath Imaging Multi-polarization Photon-counting Lidar (SIMPL): An Innovative Laser Altimeter for Mapping Ice, Water, Land and Forest Cover," EGU 2007, April 16-20, 2007, Vienna, Austria, Paper A-05884.
2006 J.B. Abshire, H. Riris, S.R. Kawa, X. Sun, M.A. Krainak, J. Mao, P. Jain, G.J. Collatz, "Laser Sounder for Global Measurement of CO2 Concentrations in the Troposphere from Space: Update", Eos Trans. AGU, 87(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract IN21A-1197, 2006.
2006 James B. Abshire, Xiaoli Sun, Gregory A. Neumann, Jan F. McGarry, Tom Zagwodzki, Peggy Jester, Haris Riris, Maria T. Zuber and David E. Smith, "Laser Pulses from Earth Detected at Mars," Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO-06) Long Beach California, May 2006.
2006 James B. Abshire, David J. Harding, Xiaoli Sun, Michael A. Krainak, Christopher A Shuman, and Phillip W. Dabney, "Space-based Swath Mapping Laser Altimeter for Cryospheric and Vegetation Mapping", Spring AGU Meeting, Baltimore MD, May 2006.
2006 J.B. Abshire; Riris, H.; Krainak, M. A.; Sun, X.; Collatz, G. J.; Kawa, S. R.; Andrews, A.E., "Laser Sounder for Global Measurement of CO2 Concentrations in the Troposphere from Space" Session AS3.14: Advances in Carbon Cycle Atmospheric Observing Systems, Measurement Technology, and Inverse Modeling. European Geosciences Union General Assembly, Vienna Austria, April 2006.
2005 James B. Abshire, David J. Harding, Xiaoli Sun, Michael A. Krainak, Christopher A. Shuman, and Phillip W. Dabney, "Space-based Swath Imaging Laser Altimeter for Cryospheric and Topographic Mapping," Fall AGU, San Francisco CA, December 2005.
2005 Xiaoli Sun, James B. Abshire, Donghui Yi, and Helen A. Fricker, "ICESat Receiver Signal Dynamic Range Assessment and Correction of Range Bias due to Saturation," Fall AGU, San Francisco CA, December 2005.
2005 Michael A. Krainak, James Abshire, Graham Allan, John Burris, G. James Collatz, Amelia Gates, Randy Kawa, Haris Riris, Xiaoli Sun, "Remote Sensing Of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide And Methane Using Tunable Diode Lasers, Fiber Amplifiers And Photon Counting Detectors," Tunable Diode Laser Spectroscopy Conference, July 2005.
2005 Haris Riris, James Abshire, Graham Allan, John Burris, G. James Collatz, Amelia Gates, Randy Kawa, Michael A. Krainak, Xiaoli Sun, "A Ground Based Remote Sensing Tunable Diode Laser - Fiber Amplifier Instrument. Application To Carbon Dioxide Detection," Tunable Diode Laser Spectroscopy Conference July 2005.
2005 J. Abshire, D. Harding, C. Shuman, X .Sun, P. Dabney, M. .Krainak, T. Scambos, "Space - based Swath Imaging Laser Altimeter for Cryospheric Topographic and Surface Property Mapping", Spring AGU 2005, Paper C43B-04, May 2005.
2005 J. B. Abshire, X. Sun, M. A. Krainak, "Laser Altimetry using Pseudo-Noise Code Modulated Fiber Lasers and Photon Counting Detectors", Conference on Lasers and Electro-optics (CLEO.05) Paper JThI4, May 2005.
2004 J.B. Abshire, M.A..Krainak, H. Riris, X. Sun, J. Burris, A. Gates, J. Collatz, "Laser Sounder for Global Measurement of CO2 Concentrations in the Lower Troposphere from Space: Progress", Fall AGU 2004, Paper SF43A-0783, December 2004.
2004 X. Sun, J.B. Abshire, H. Riris, J. McGarry, J.M. Sirota, "Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) on the ICESat Mission: Science Measurement Performance since Launch", Fall AGU 2004, Paper C21B-03, December 2004.
2004 X. Sun, J. B. Abshire, M. A. Krainak, J. D. Spinhirne, S. P. Palm, R. S.Lancaster, G. R. Allan, "Cloud and aerosol lidar channel design and performance of the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System on the ICESat mission", OSA Conference on Lasers and Electro-optics (CLEO.04), Paper CThT16, May 2004.
2004 M. A. Krainak, A. E. Andrews, G. Allan, J. F. Burris, G. J. Collatz, H. Riris, X. Sun, A. Gates, J. B. Abshire, "Laser Sounder for Measuring Atmospheric CO2 from Orbit", XXII International Laser Radar Conference, Matera Italy, July 2004.
2003 J.B. Abshire, X. Sun; H. Riris, M. Sirota, S. Palm, E.A. Ketchum, "Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) for the ICESat Mission - Pre-launch performance", Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, 2003. CLEO '03, 1-6 June 2003.
2002 M.A. Krainak, A.E. Andrews, G.R. Allan, J.F. Burris, H. Riris, X. Sun; J.B. Abshire, "Measurements of atmospheric CO2 over a horizontal path using a tunable-diode-laser and erbium-fiber-amplifier at 1572 nm", Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, 2003. CLEO '03, 1-6 June 2003 Page(s):878 - 881.
2003 J.B. Abshire, X. Sun, H. Riris, M. Sirota, J. McGarry, S. Palm, "Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) on the ICESat Mission: Initial Science Measurement Performance", Fall AGU 2003, Paper C31D-01 INVITED , December 2003.
2002 A.E. Andrews, J.F. Burris, J.B. Abshire, M.A. Krainak, H. Riris, X. Sun, G.J. Collatz, "A Ground-Based Profiling Differential Absorption LIDAR System for Measuring Carbon Dioxide in the Planetary Boundary Layer", Eos Trans. AGU, 83(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract A12A-0129, 2002.
2002 Xiaoli Sun, J.B. Abshire, "Performance of a breadboard lidar receiver at 1570 nm for remotely sensing atmospheric CO2 concentration", CLEO.02 Technical Digest, paper CFF3, p.648, Optical Society of America, Washington DC, 2002.
2001 J.B.Abshire, G.J. Collatz, X. Sun, H. Riris, A.E. Andrews, M. Krainak, "Laser Sounder Technique for Remotely Measuring Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations", Eos Trans. AGU, 82(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract GC32A-0221, December 2001.
2001 X.Sun, J.B. Abshire, G.A. Neumann, M.T. Zuber, "Radiometry Measurements of Mars at 1064nm using the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter", Eos Trans. AGU, 82(47), Fall Meet. Suppl, Abstract PA42A-0557, December 2001.
Selected Reports & Other Publications:
2002 M. T. Zuber, D. E. Smith, J. B. Abshire, "Shedding Light on the Red Planet, Science findings from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter", The Planetary Report, Pasadena CA, pp 4-9, Nov-Dec 2002.
1998 J.B. Abshire, J.C. Smith and B.E. Schutz, "The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System", Technical Digest, 19th International Laser Radar Conference, Annapolis MD, NASA Conference Report CP-1998-207671, July 1998.
1996 T. Morgan, J. Abshire, T. Clancy, G. Fry, B. Gustafson,M. Hecht, T. Kostiuk, J. Rall, D. Reuter and R. Sheldon, "Chapter 5 - Atmospheres from Within", in Planetary Surface Instruments Workshop, C. Meyer, A.H. Treiman, and T. Kostiuk, eds., LPI Technical Report 95-05, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston TX, 1996.
1994 J.B. Abshire, J.F. McGarry, L.K. Pacini, J.B. Blair and G. Elman, "Laser Altimetry Simulator, Version 3.0, User.s Guide", NASA Technical Memorandum 104588, January 1994.
1986 "The Geoscience Laser Altimetry / Ranging System (GLARS)", S.C. Cohen, J.J. Degnan, J.L. Bufton, J.B. Garvin, and J.B. Abshire, NASA Technical Memorandum 87803, September 1986.
