PACE HARP2 GPC: Regional Cloud Optical Properties from Polarimetric Satellite Data

NASA's PACE mission provides cloud properties derived from the novel GISS Polarimetric Cloud algorithm. The CLOUD_GPC suite includes core variables like cloud droplet effective radius, liquid water path, and optical thickness, combined with data from the OCI CLOUD instrument. This version 3.0 release includes experimental variables intended for diagnostic purposes and future refinement.

Use Cases

• Validate cloud microphysics models based on cloud droplet effective radius and number concentration.
• Study cloud radiative effects based on cloud optical thickness and liquid water path.
• Develop new polarimetric retrieval algorithms based on experimental variables like the cloud liquid index and Rainbow Fourier Transform retrievals.
• Analyze cloud top properties for meteorological studies based on altitude, pressure, and temperature data.

Strengths

• Includes core geophysical variables with defined units, such as cloud droplet effective radius (µm) and cloud liquid water path (g m⁻²).
• Derived from a novel polarimetric algorithm implemented on a global scale, offering a unique data perspective.
• Combines retrievals from the GPC algorithm with the OCI CLOUD suite for a multi-instrument view.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Includes several experimental variables that are noted as subject to change in future versions.

Provenance

Source

NASA Earthdata (PACE HARP2 instrument, GISS Polarimetric Cloud Algorithm).

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data processed through the GPC algorithm.

Geography

Regional coverage (implied by 'Regional' in title), likely global.