Subvisible Cirrus Detection using the UMBC Elastic Lidar Facility (ELF) during the ABOVE Experiment
Abstract
On May 4, 2002, the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) was launched on the AQUA satellite to study the Earth's water cycle. As a validation initiative conducted during August to October, 2002, the AIRS-BBAERI(Baltimore Bomem Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer) Ocean Validation Experiment, or ABOVE mission, was conducted at the Chesapeake Lighthouse 14 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach. ABOVE compares measurements from the downward looking satellite and an upward looking interferometer, a visible/infrared lidar and radiosondes. The presence of cool subvisible cirrus cloud tops can interfere with AIRS sea surface temperature retrievals. As a result, the ELF system was employed to detect subvisible cirrus to ensure clear skies between the satellite and the uplooking interferometer. The basic construction of the ELF system is outlined and the functionality of the ELF Labview software is given. Results showing cirrus cloud cases which may affect AIRS or BBAERI retrievals are shown along with the infrared spectra. The implications to the retrieval process will be briefly discussed. Additionally, several interesting observations of the growth and decline of the maritime boundary layer will be presented.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002AGUFM.A21A0010C
- Keywords:
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- 0300 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE;
- 0305 Aerosols and particles (0345;
- 4801);
- 0365 Troposphere: composition and chemistry;
- 0394 Instruments and techniques