DEVOTE UC-12 Aircraft Scanning Polarimeter Data for Satellite Validation

DEVOTE scientists conducted eleven science flights in September and October 2011 to collect aerosol and cloud measurements. The Research Scanning Polarimeter (RSP) on a NASA UC-12 aircraft gathered data over ground sites and along satellite overpasses. These measurements were used to validate and improve retrieval algorithms for missions like CALIPSO and the ACE Decadal Survey.

Use Cases

• Validate satellite aerosol retrieval algorithms based on airborne polarimeter measurements.
• Improve cloud microphysical property models based on coordinated remote sensing data.
• Train early career scientists in mission design and analysis based on the HOPE initiative framework.
• Prepare for future satellite missions like ACE based on airborne sensor data.
• Study aerosol-cloud interactions based on synchronized in-situ and remote sensing observations.

Strengths

• Data collection is complete, covering eleven coordinated science flights.
• Measurements were specifically designed to coordinate with CALIPSO satellite overpasses and AERONET ground sites.
• Project had dual objectives: scientific validation and hands-on training for early career scientists.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• File formats include BIN and ISO, which may require specialized tools for analysis.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Remotely sensed data collected via the Research Scanning Polarimeter (RSP) onboard the UC-12 aircraft.

Time Range

September and October 2011

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:22:46.121180; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Flight paths based at NASA Langley Research Center, over AERONET ground network sites.