Laser Enables Precise Measurements for Weather Forecasting, Industry

About this technology

Overview

Although Hurricane Irma devastated many areas, accurate forecasts helped countless residents prepare. Helping inform those forecasts? Temperature and humidity information from the Cross-Track Infrared Spectrometer, built out of Langley Research Center, which scans the atmosphere from a polar-orbiting satellite. A crucial laser that measures the alignment and proximity of mirrors within the instrument to sub-micrometer levels was built by ABB Inc., whose U.S. headquarters is in Cary, North Carolina. Today, ABB sells hundreds of industrial spectrometers per year with that laser, which is smaller and requires less power than previous options.