Overview of the CALIPSO Mission and CALIOP Data Processing Algorithms

TLDR

CALIOP, a two‑wavelength polarization lidar on the CALIPSO satellite, provides global aerosol and cloud profiling in the troposphere and lower stratosphere and represents a significant advance over earlier space lidars. The paper offers a concise overview of the CALIPSO mission, the CALIOP instrument, its data products, and the algorithms that generate them. A suite of algorithms identifies aerosol and cloud layers and retrieves optical and microphysical properties to produce the CALIOP data products. The multiyear CALIOP dataset offers a new perspective on Earth’s atmosphere and will enhance understanding of aerosols and clouds in the climate system.

Abstract

Abstract The Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) is a two-wavelength polarization lidar that performs global profiling of aerosols and clouds in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. CALIOP is the primary instrument on the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellite, which has flown in formation with the NASA A-train constellation of satellites since May 2006. The global, multiyear dataset obtained from CALIOP provides a new view of the earth’s atmosphere and will lead to an improved understanding of the role of aerosols and clouds in the climate system. A suite of algorithms has been developed to identify aerosol and cloud layers and to retrieve a variety of optical and microphysical properties. CALIOP represents a significant advance over previous space lidars, and the algorithms that have been developed have many innovative aspects to take advantage of its capabilities. This paper provides a brief overview of the CALIPSO mission, the CALIOP instrument and data products, and an overview of the algorithms used to produce these data products.