CPEX-AW Aircraft Lidar Profiles for Satellite Validation

St. Croix and the tropical Atlantic region are the focus of this dataset containing High Altitude Lidar Observatory (HALO) image and h5 data files from the joint NASA-ESA CPEX-AW campaign. The data supports calibration of the ADM-Aeolus satellite and studies of convective processes, Saharan Air Layer dynamics, and aerosol-cloud interactions. Collection is complete, with the dataset managed by NASA's LARC_ASDC.

Use Cases

• Calibrating and validating wind measurements from the ESA ADM-Aeolus satellite using co-located airborne lidar data.
• Analyzing vertical profiles of aerosol optical depth, extinction, and backscatter to study Saharan dust transport.
• Investigating water vapor mixing ratio profiles and planetary boundary layer height in relation to tropical convection.
• Studying the interaction of African easterly waves with the Intertropical Convergence Zone using combined wind and aerosol data.
• Examining the structure of the marine boundary layer during convective cloud system initiation and lifecycle.

Strengths

• Data originates from a major joint campaign between NASA and the European Space Agency, indicating high institutional credibility.
• The dataset provides multi-parameter atmospheric profiles including aerosol optical properties, water vapor, and boundary layer height.
• It is designed for the specific, high-stakes use case of post-launch calibration and validation of a flagship Earth observation satellite (ADM-Aeolus).

Limitations

• Key quantitative metadata such as row count, file size, and a complete column list are unavailable across all sources.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date, with one platform showing 2021-09-17 and others showing 2026-03-13.

Provenance

Source

NASA LARC_ASDC and European Space Agency (ESA) from the CPEX-AW field campaign.

Collection Method

Collected by the DC-8 aircraft equipped with the High Altitude Lidar Observatory (HALO) and other instruments.

Time Range

Campaign period following the summer 2017 CPEX campaign; specific dates not provided.

Freshness

2026-03-13 03:32:14.482076

Geography

St. Croix and the tropical Atlantic Ocean, focusing on the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).