2.6—Tunable Diode Laser Hygrometer (TDLH)

A low-cost, lightweight, and high-precision tunable-diode laser spectrometer (TDLS) for measuring water vapor in the atmospheric boundary layer. Built using readily available components and affordable laser diodes, the instrument offers fast-response, high-resolution measurements with 10 ppm precision at 10 Hz sampling. Compact and energy-efficient, it is ideal for deployment on UAVs, flux towers, and remote weather stations. The device enables high-quality atmospheric observations by both researchers and field users with minimal technical background.

Inventors: Darin Toohey (CU Boulder Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences); Lars Kalnajs (LASP)

Potential Applications: Hardware and Instrumentation