PICASSO-CENA SRR

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Earth Observing Satellites
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A-Train Afternoon Constellation
The A-Train is a group of Earth Observing
Satellites (EOS)
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A-Train Afternoon Constellation
A-Train Animation
The A-Train is a group of Earth Observing
Satellites (EOS) which will fly in formation,
each within minutes of each other, on polar
orbits. All six satellites will cross the
equator within a few minutes of one another at
around 130 p.m. local time.
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Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) A-Train
Afternoon Constellation
The Orbiting Carbon Observatory is tentatively
scheduled for launch in October 2007. It will
measure the total mass of the atmosphere, the
concentration of carbon dioxide, and how much of
the carbon dioxide variation is caused by
changes in atmospheric thickness.
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AquaATrain Afternoon Constellation
Aqua was launched May 2002. Aqua is studying
atmospheric temperature, humidity, clouds,
precipitation and radiative balance, terrestrial
snow, sea ice, sea surface temperature, ocean
productivity, and soil moisture, as well as the
monitoring of terrestrial and marine ecosystem
dynamics.
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CLOUDSAT A-Train Afternoon Constellation
CloudSat will use advanced radar to "slice"
through clouds to see their vertical
structure. Current satellites can only
produce images of the uppermost layers of
clouds. CloudSat will be one of the first
satellites to study clouds on a global basis. The
key observations will be cloud structure,
composition, vertical profiles, liquid water and
ice contents, and related physical and radiative
properties. CloudSat and CALIPSO will be
launched together on the same vehicle,
tentatively set for October 2004.
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Parasol A-Train Afternoon Constellation
Parasols main purpose is to study the
characterization of clouds and the microphysical
and radiative properties of aerosols. This is
needed to understand and model the radiative
impact of clouds and aerosols. Parasol will be
launched in 2005 by the French Space Agency and
will join four other A-Train satellites already
launched by NASA.
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Aura A Train, Afternoon Constellation
Aura was launched on July 15, 2004.
Aura will help answer these scientific questions
Is the Earths protective ozone layer
recovering? What are the processes controlling
air quality? How is the Earths climate
changing? How does the composition of the
atmosphere affect and respond to Earths changing
climate?
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Aura A-Train Afternoon Constellation
Animation of Aura
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CALIPSO
Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder
Satellite Observations
http//www-calipso.larc.nasa.gov http//calipsoout
reach.hamptonu.edu
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What is CALIPSO?

• CALIPSO
• is a joint satellite mission between the United
  States and France.
• will be launched March 2005, on a Delta II
  launch vehicle, with CloudSat.
• will fly in a polar orbit in formation with the
  Aqua satellite.
• will daily down-link all data and transfer the
  data to NASA Langley Research Center where it
  will be processed and archived.

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What will CALIPSO do?

• Provide key measurements of aerosol and cloud
  properties needed to improve climate
  predictions
• Improve our understanding of the role of
  aerosols and clouds in the processes that
  govern climate responses and feedbacks
• Improve the representation of aerosols and
  clouds in models, leading to more accurate
  predictions of climate change

Image courtesy CloudSat
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Unique to CALIPSO is LIDAR
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What is LIDAR?
Light Detection And Ranging

• A pulse laser source provides range (distance)
  information from the time delay between the
  transmitted and received pulse.
• The light scattered from the aerosols and
  molecules is collected by a telescope and
  focused on an optical detector.
• The detector converts this light into an
  electronics signal.
• The signal is digitized, processed and displayed
  by a computer.

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CALIPSO data will provide a vertical image of
aerosols and clouds
Vertical measurements are necessary to
understand the effects of aerosol on clouds.
Aerosols affect cloud formation and properties
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One Big Uncertainty The Effects of Multilayer
Clouds
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LITE data, West Africa, September1994
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Altitude, km
0
20o N, 3o E
17o N, 6o E
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CALIPSO Simulated 1 Day Orbit Coverage
CALIPSO will provide global measurements of
clouds and aerosols.
82o N
82o S

• The orange ground tracks show the locations of
  where CALIPSO will measure clouds and aerosols
  over a one day period.

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Satellite covers a fixed grid every 16 days
16-day repeat cycle produces a grid spaced by 172
km at the equator
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CALIPSO LIDAR Animation
Click on image to start movie
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Conclusion

• CALIPSO will make important measurements of cloud
  and aerosol properties that will significantly
  improve our understanding of both direct and
  indirect effects on climate.
• Both students and scientists can contribute to
  this important research

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Movie Time Did anyone bring popcorn?

• Sit back and enjoy a 6-minute movie on LIDAR

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CALIPSO is a Partnership
Langley Research Center mission lead, program
management, system engineering, payload mission
operations, validation, and data processing and
archival
Centre National dEtudes Spatiales provide
Alcatel PROTEUS spacecraft and IIR instrument,
payload-to-spacecraft integration, and spacecraft
mission operations
Hampton University lead algorithm implementation
and manage educational and public outreach
Ball Aerospace Technologies Corporation
develop the lidar and WFC and provide
instrument-to-payload integration, launch vehicle
support, and science data downlink
Institut Pierre Simon Laplace lead French
science studies, validation, IIR algorithm
development and provide data archival