This report is a discussion and evaluation of the present and potential capabilities of four remote sensing techniques for the measurement of meteorological variables in the lower atmosphere (i.e., primarily the troposphere). The four techniques treated are acoustic echo sounding, FM-CW radar, Lidar, and microwave radiometry. The meteorological variables of interest are the profiles (in three dimensions) of wind velocity, temperature, humidity, density, and refractive index. The desired capability is not merely to sense, but also to measure quantitatively the variable being studied.
