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Aerosol Measurements by the Globally Distributed Micro Pulse Lidar NetworkFull time measurements of the vertical distribution of aerosol are now being acquired at a number of globally distributed MP (micro pulse) lidar sites. The MP lidar systems provide full time profiling of all significant cloud and aerosol to the limit of signal attenuation from compact, eye safe instruments. There are currently eight sites in operation and over a dozen planned. At all sited there are also passive aerosol and radiation measurements supporting the lidar data. Four of the installations are at Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program sites. The network operation includes instrument operation and calibration and the processing of aerosol measurements with standard retrievals and data products from the network sites. Data products include optical thickness and extinction cross section profiles. Application of data is to supplement satellite aerosol measurements and to provide a climatology of the height distribution of aerosol. The height distribution of aerosol is important for aerosol transport and the direct scattering and absorption of shortwave radiation in the atmosphere. Current satellite and other data already provide a great amount of information on aerosol distribution, but no passive technique can adequately resolve the height profile of aerosol. The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) is an orbital lidar to be launched in early 2002. GLAS will provide global measurements of the height distribution of aerosol. The MP lidar network will provide ground truth and analysis support for GLAS and other NASA Earth Observing System data. The instruments, sites, calibration procedures and standard data product algorithms for the MPL network will be described.
Document ID
20020023967
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Spinhirne, James
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Welton, Judd
(Maryland Univ. Baltimore County Catonsville, MD United States)
Campbell, James
(Science Systems and Applications, Inc. United States)
Berkoff, Tim
(Science Systems and Applications, Inc. United States)
Starr, David
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Subject Category
Environment Pollution
Meeting Information
Meeting: Aerosol Monitoring Symposium
Location: Portland, OR
Country: United States
Start Date: October 13, 2001
End Date: October 16, 2001
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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