CALIPSO Tropospheric Aerosol Profiles Under Transparent Clouds

CALIPSO satellite data provides monthly mean vertical profiles of aerosol extinction coefficients at 532 nm and aerosol optical depth (AOD) below 12 km altitude. This Level 3 product averages data specifically from columns containing transparent clouds, derived from the CALIOP instrument's version 4.21 Level 2 aerosol profile product. The joint NASA and CNES mission has been collecting data since its launch in April 2006, with this specific product version updated in 2022.

Use Cases

• Analyzing monthly mean aerosol extinction coefficient profiles at 532 nm to model aerosol radiative forcing under transparent cloud conditions.
• Studying the vertical distribution of mineral dust aerosols by using the separate averaged profile data classified from Level 2 aerosol-type flags.
• Investigating regional aerosol optical depth (AOD) patterns in the troposphere by integrating the reported extinction coefficient profiles.
• Comparing aerosol properties across different sky conditions (e.g., Cloud-Free vs. Cloudy-Sky Transparent) using the four defined product types.

Strengths

• Data is derived from the version 4.21 CALIOP Level 2 aerosol profile product, which has undergone quality screening before averaging.
• Product provides specific averaging for four distinct sky conditions, enabling targeted analysis of aerosol properties in different atmospheric states.
• Data collection is part of the long-running CALIPSO mission, launched in 2006 and flying within the international A-Train satellite constellation.

Limitations

• Data is reported only below 12 km altitude, limiting analysis of aerosol profiles in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere.
• The monthly mean temporal resolution may be too coarse for studying short-term aerosol events or diurnal cycles.
• Specific sample size (number of profiles or grid cells) and spatial resolution details are not provided in the available description.

Provenance

Source

Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) mission, a joint project between NASA and the French CNES.

Collection Method

Data collected by the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) instrument, processed into Level 3 monthly mean profiles on a uniform grid.

Time Range

Ongoing collection since the CALIPSO satellite launch on April 28, 2006.

Freshness

Product version updated as of 2022-01-01, with ongoing data collection from the CALIPSO mission.

Geography

Global coverage from the CALIPSO satellite's sun-synchronous orbit within the A-Train constellation.