HSRL CALIPSO Validation Field Campaign

The Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellite, led by NASA Langley Research Center, provides new insight into the role that clouds and atmospheric aerosols (airborne particles) play in regulating Earth's weather, climate, and air quality.

CALIPSO combines an active lidar instrument with passive infrared and visible imagers to probe the vertical structure and properties of thin clouds and aerosols over the globe. CALIPSO launched on April 28, 2006 with the cloud profiling radar system on the CloudSat satellite.

CALIPSO's space-based lidar is very similar to the HSRL; therefore, researchers from both teams have found it beneficial to compare simultaneous, or coincident data from the two instruments. These comparisons are used to calibrate and validate CALIPSO measurements.

CALIPSO and it's launch and orbit partner, CloudSat, underwent an intensive calibration and validation campaign in September 2006 called CCVEX (CALIPSO CloudSat Validation Experiment). During CCVEX, NASA flew three aircraft: the NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center's ER-2, NASA's Langley Research Center's B-200, and a Learjet leased from Weather Modification, Inc. in support of the mission. With support crews and CALIPSO and CloudSat research teams, the planes headed to Robins Air Force Base, GA, for the validation experiment. All were outfitted with a suite of instruments similar to those on the satellites.

Additionally, the HSRL team has flown shorter validation missions in the southeastern Virginia region near NASA Langley Research Center.

Also, for more information about the CALIPSO Validation campaign, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/calipso/main/index.html.

MAY 2006
24 Flight
JUNE 2006
01 Flight	09 Flight	14 Flight	21 Flight	23 Flight	25 Flight	28 Flight	30 Flight
JULY 2006
18 Flight	31 Flight
AUGUST 2006
02 Flight L1 Flight L2	03 Flight	08 Flight L1 Flight L2	10 Flight	17 Flight

Funding for the deployment of the NASA King Air was provided by NASA and the Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Science Program. Logistical support was provided by NOAA ESRL. The information contained herein is provided as a public service, with the understanding that NASA, DOE, NOAA, and the CALIPSO-VAL project collaborators make no warranties, either expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information. Do not quote or cite without permission. Permission for use of these data and additional information may be obtained from the investigating scientists: Chris Hostetler, Richard Ferrare, or John Hair. The data are preliminary and subject to change.