Vaisala launches new ceilometer for high range cloud detection

Related application software enables air quality forecasting

Atlanta, GA, Vaisala introduces a new cloud height detector, the Vaisala Ceilometer CL51 in the American Meteorological Society’s Annual Meeting in Atlanta today. The CL51 is designed to measure cloud base height and vertical visibility in all weather conditions, which makes it an ideal instrument for meteorological applications that rely on reliable cloud height detection.

When combined with new application software also developed by Vaisala, the CL51 reports planetary boundary layer structure parameters like mixing layer height and residual layer height. This means that the CL51 can be used to measure and forecast air quality. All data can be exported from the software for advanced analysis and research purposes.

The CL51 utilizes advanced optical single lens technology for high range measurement, which makes its performance during precipitation and low cloud conditions unsurpassed. Thanks to the strong and stable signal over the whole measurement range that the single lens technology enables, the CL51 reports high altitude cirrus clouds without unsurpassing the low and middle layer clouds, or vertical visibility in harsh conditions.

CL51 is able to detect three cloud layers simultaneously throughout a measurement range that extends from ground level to 43,000 feet (13 kilometers). It employs a pulsed diode laser LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) technology, where short laser pulses are sent out, and the reflection of light caused by clouds, precipitation or other obscuration is used to determine cloud base height.

Vaisala Ceilometer CL51 is on display at the American Meteorological Society’s 90th Annual Meeting at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA on Jan 17-21.

Vaisala’s stand no. is 608.

About Vaisala
Vaisala is a global leader in environmental and industrial measurement. Building on more than 70 years of experience, Vaisala contributes to a better quality of life by providing a comprehensive range of innovative observation and measurement products and services for meteorology, weather critical operations and controlled environments. Headquartered in Finland, Vaisala employs over 1,300 professionals worldwide and is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. http://www.vaisala.com/