Accurately measuring wind field is crucial for understanding the atmospheric dynamics, as well as the exchange and balance of heat, momentum, and matter in the atmosphere. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), global observation of the three-dimensional (3D) wind field is pivotal for enhancing numerical prediction accuracy. Due to the absence of aeronautical data, meteorological observation and forecasting capabilities are notably deficient in sparsely populated areas, the southern hemisphere, polar regions, and vast oceans. Spaceborne wind measurement lidar technology has emerged as a promising solution endorsed by the WMO, offering continuous, high-accuracy vertical profile observations of the global wind field. Numerous countries are actively engaged in demonstrating and developing spaceborne lidar technology. In 2018, the European Space Agency launched the Aeolus. The data analysis and numerical weather prediction assimilation assessment of the Doppler wind measurement lidar in orbit for four years and eight months showed that the technological maturity of wind measurement lidar and prospective capacity for model application reach the best expectations. This has garnered extensive attention in the fields of meteorology and remote sensing worldwide. Spaceborne Doppler wind lidar has become an important instrument for observing the vertical profile of the global wind field, with the successful operation of Aeolus. Despite the success of Aeolus, projects by NASA, JAXA, and other agencies have faced challenges, limiting progress to simulation demonstrations or airborne tests due to technical complexities and financial constraints. As part of China’s next-generation polar-orbiting meteorological satellite plan, FY-5 lists active wind measurement lidar as one of the new payloads to be developed on a priority basis. This technological programme will effectively promote the high-quality development of China’s meteorological services and is of great significance for strengthening global monitoring, global forecasting, and global service system building. As a precision active optical remote sensing payload, spaceborne Doppler lidar is a complex system with a lengthy research and development cycle, a substantial amount of engineering work, and a significant investment. Therefore, developing institutional demonstration models and performance simulations for spaceborne Doppler lidar is crucial to meet the stringent accuracy and resolution demands of numerical weather prediction.

The spaceborne hybrid wind lidar integrates direct and coherent detection techniques, to achieve high-resolution global wind field observations. Direct detection, suitable for the middle to upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, utilizes molecular scattering, while coherent detection targets the lower troposphere and atmospheric boundary layer. The incoherent detection module operates at 355 nm and uses the dual-edge detection technique based on Fabry-Perot etalon. The coherent detection module uses a heterodyne detection technique operating at 1064 nm. We present a simulation model for wind measurement lidar that realizes gridded atmospheric parameters, scanning observation, and forward-inversion simulation. A method for detecting horizontal wind fields based on dual-beam observation is developed to ensure the response of the lidar for wind speed detection in both longitudinal and latitudinal directions. Our simulation analyses highlight that in the atmospheric boundary layer with high aerosol concentrations, wind speed observation errors are less than 0.8 m/s, whereas in clear skies with thin aerosol layers, errors are approximately 1.5 m/s. The single-satellite dual-beam scanning mode effectively meets satellite observation requirements for global wind vector detection by combining coherent and direct detection methods.

The spaceborne hybrid wind lidar leverages dual-beam detection to maximize observational benefits, achieving high-resolution global wind field detection and single-star wind vector capability. We offer parameter recommendations based on current domestic space payload trends and technical maturity, aiming to meet the spatial and temporal resolution requirements essential for assimilating numerical weather prediction data. The complex system design and error analysis underscore the importance of payload performance, atmospheric characteristics, satellite parameters, orbit settings, and scanning methodologies in on-orbit observations. Future simulation experiments will further enhance scientific exploration mission objectives, enabling comprehensive studies of the spaceborne wind measurement lidar’s global observational capabilities.