The CALIPSO mission

Abstract

The Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellite flies in a polar orbit as part of the Aqua constellation to vertically profile aerosols and clouds using the first satellite lidar dedicated to atmospheric sensing. The payload also includes passive visible and infrared sensors, which use data from the lidar to improve their retrieval accuracies. These measurements are used to improve our knowledge of the role of aerosols and clouds in the climate system.