American Geophysical Union Become an AGU Member
Subscribe to AGU Journals		 AGU Home AGU Publications

Read Full Article (file size: 852350 bytes)    Cited by

JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, D20201, doi:10.1029/2007JD008768, 2007

Airborne validation of spatial properties measured by the CALIPSO lidar

Matthew J. McGill

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA


Mark A. Vaughan

Science Systems and Applications, Inc., Hampton, Virginia, USA


Charles R. Trepte

NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia, USA


William D. Hart

Science Systems and Applications, Inc., Greenbelt, Maryland, USA


Dennis L. Hlavka

Science Systems and Applications, Inc., Greenbelt, Maryland, USA


David M. Winker

NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia, USA


Ralph Kuehn

Science Systems and Applications, Inc., Hampton, Virginia, USA


Abstract

The Cloud-Aerosol Lidar Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellite provides a new and exciting opportunity to study clouds and aerosols in the Earth's atmosphere using range-resolved laser remote sensing. Following the successful launch of the CALIPSO satellite, validation flights were conducted using the long-established Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL) to verify CALIPSO's calibration and validate various CALIPSO data products. This paper presents results of the initial comparisons made between the spaceborne CALIPSO lidar and the airborne CPL. Results are presented to validate measurement sensitivity and the spatial properties reported in the CALIPSO data products. Cloud layer top determinations from CALIPSO are found to be in good agreement with those from CPL. Determinations of minimum detectable backscatter are in excellent agreement with theoretical values predicted prior to launch.

Received 9 April 2007; accepted 16 July 2007; published 17 October 2007.

Keywords: lidar; cloud lidar.

Index Terms: 3360 Atmospheric Processes: Remote sensing; 3311 Atmospheric Processes: Clouds and aerosols; 3310 Atmospheric Processes: Clouds and cloud feedbacks; 0394 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Instruments and techniques; 3394 Atmospheric Processes: Instruments and techniques.

Read Full Article (file size: 852350 bytes)    Cited by

Citation: McGill, M. J., M. A. Vaughan, C. R. Trepte, W. D. Hart, D. L. Hlavka, D. M. Winker, and R. Kuehn (2007), Airborne validation of spatial properties measured by the CALIPSO lidar, J. Geophys. Res., 112, D20201, doi:10.1029/2007JD008768.