Satellite validation with lidar
Abstract
The "Satellite validation with lidar" (VALID) project supports the long-term multi-mission validation of atmospheric chemistry and physics instruments with ground-based lidars. VALID involves lidar stations around the world measuring stratospheric ozone and temperature profiles, and tropospheric aerosol and cloud properties. Currently over 8000 lidar profiles have been made available for validation purposes in VALID and its predecessor EQUAL (ENVISAT quality assessment with lidar). The satellite data under investigation here are the ozone and temperature profiles delivered by the GOMOS (Global ozone monitoring by occultation of stars), MIPAS (Michelson interferometer for passive atmospheric sounding) and SCIAMACHY (Scanning imaging absorption spectrometer for atmospheric chartography) instruments. We have collocated these profiles with the lidar measurements and analysed the comparison results for dependence on several geophysical and instrument observational parameters, keeping a close look at the instruments’ performances during the seven years of data acquisition. Validation results will be presented for the operational ESA products and various scientific products.