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Global Aerosol Profiling by Orbital Lidar, GLAS Results and ValidationThe Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) launched in 2003 is the first polar orbiting satellite lidar. The instrument was designed for high performance observations of the distribution and optical scattering cross sections of clouds and aerosol. GLAS is approaching six months of on orbit data operation. These data from thousands of orbits illustrate the ability of space lidar to accurately and dramatically measure the height distribution of global aerosol to an unprecedented degree. There were many intended science applications of the GLAS data and significant results have already been realized. profiling is a fundamentally new measurement from space with multiple applications. A most important aerosol application is providing input to global aerosol generation and transport models. Another is improved measurement of aerosol optical depth. A main approach to verify the aerosol optical depth retrieval is comparison to surface measurements by Aeronet. A special feature of the GLAS satellite bus is to rapidly point the lidar instrument at off nadir targets with less than 100 m accuracy. About a dozen selected Aeronet sites were pointed at whenever the G U S lidar came within 5 degrees of zenith. These plus a more general comparison to nearby sites support the G U S data product values. In addition the GUS data can be used to add vertical distribution information to Aeronet aerosol measurements.. As an EOS project instrument, GLAS data products are openly available to the science community. First year results from G U S are summarized.
Document ID
20040171204
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Spinhirne, J. D.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Palm, S. P.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Hlavka, D. L.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Hart, W. D.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Mahesh, A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Welton, E. J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2004
Subject Category
Environment Pollution
Meeting Information
Meeting: Aeronet/Photon Workshop
Location: Huelva
Country: Spain
Start Date: May 10, 2004
End Date: May 14, 2004
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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