Open AccessTowards an aerosol classification scheme for future EarthCARE lidar observations and implications for research needs
Author(s) -
Groß S.,
Freudenthaler V.,
Wirth M.,
Weinzierl B.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
atmospheric science letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 45
ISSN - 1530-261X
DOI - 10.1002/asl2.524
Subject(s) - lidar , aerosol , remote sensing , environmental science , satellite , meteorology , atmospheric sciences , geology , geography , physics , astronomy
Owing to the high variability of aerosols, and their different impact on the Earth's climate system, aerosol type classification from satellite measurements is of high importance. Polarization sensitive lidar measurements on board the future Earth Clouds, Aerosols and Radiation Explorer ( EarthCARE ) satellite mission will provide information to distinguish different aerosol types. We analyze whether former classification schemes based on lidar measurements at 532 nm are applicable to EarthCARE measurements at 355 nm. We compare coordinated lidar measurements at both wavelengths performed during five field experiments; adapt thresholds for aerosol classification with future spaceborne lidar measurements and identify limitations of the current state of knowledge.