First light and start of operations at ALOMAR (multi‑partner coverage)

A major project milestone was reached with “first light” of the first EULIAA atmospheric lidar at the Arctic Lidar Observatory for Middle Atmospheric Research (ALOMAR), about 300 km north of the Arctic Circle.
Developed jointly by all partners over three years, the mobile system – powered by a custom Alexandrite laser from Fraunhofer ILT and high‑durability optics from Altechna – is installed in the ALOMAR telescope hall and measures in three directions (vertical and two tilted beams) both day and night, including during aurora.
Initial wind measurements up to >20 km were successful, and now full‑scale, autonomous, multi‑angle operation has begun as the first station in a Europe‑wide validation campaign, with data planned for near‑real‑time delivery to climate and weather databases.