Aerosols and Clouds data processing and optical properties retrieval algorithms for the spaceborne ACDL/DQ-1

Abstract

Abstract. The new-generation atmospheric environment monitoring satellite DQ-1, launched successfully in April 2022 carries the Aerosol and Carbon Detection Lidar (ACDL) which is capable of globally profiling the aerosols and clouds optical properties with high accuracy. The ACDL/DQ-1 is a high-spectral-resolution lidar (HSRL) with two-wavelength polarization detection, that can be utilized to derive the aerosol optical properties. The methods are specifically developed for the data processing and optical properties retrieval according to the specific characteristics of the ACDL system are introduced in detail in this paper. Considering the different signal characteristics and different background noise behaviours of each channel during daytime and nighttime, the procedures of data pre-processing, denoising process and quality control are applied to the original measurement signals. The aerosol and cloud optical properties products of the ACDL/DQ-1 including total depolarization ratio, backscatter coefficient, extinction coefficient, lidar ratio and colour ratio can be calculated by the retrieval algorithms presented in this paper. Two measurement cases with use of the ACDL/DQ-1 on 27th June 2022 and the global averaged aerosol optical depth (AOD) from 1st June to 4th August 2022 are provided and analysed, which demonstrated the measurement capability of the ACDL/DQ-1.