Comparing toCloudSat Cloud Profiles

Comparing toCloudSat Cloud Profiles

TutorialTutorialTutorialTutorial

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

www.nasa.gov

WebsiteWebsite Go toGo to http://www.cloudsat.cira.colostate.edu/dpcstatusQL.php Go toGo to http://www.cloudsat.cira.colostate.edu/dpcstatusQL.php

InformationInformation This website shows vertical profiles of the This website shows vertical profiles of the

atmosphere taken by the CloudSat radar.atmosphere taken by the CloudSat radar. After comparing your ground observation to Aqua After comparing your ground observation to Aqua

satellite data, it can be useful to view these vertical satellite data, it can be useful to view these vertical cloud profiles to further explore the similarities and cloud profiles to further explore the similarities and differences seen between your observation and differences seen between your observation and the satellite’s reports.the satellite’s reports.

The profiles on this website provide useful The profiles on this website provide useful information on the vertical location of the clouds. information on the vertical location of the clouds. The comparison of your ground data to the The comparison of your ground data to the satellite’s data will assist in adjusting the satellite satellite’s data will assist in adjusting the satellite to attain more accurate informationto attain more accurate information

This website shows vertical profiles of the This website shows vertical profiles of the atmosphere taken by the CloudSat radar.atmosphere taken by the CloudSat radar.

After comparing your ground observation to Aqua After comparing your ground observation to Aqua satellite data, it can be useful to view these vertical satellite data, it can be useful to view these vertical cloud profiles to further explore the similarities and cloud profiles to further explore the similarities and differences seen between your observation and differences seen between your observation and the satellite’s reports.the satellite’s reports.

The profiles on this website provide useful The profiles on this website provide useful information on the vertical location of the clouds. information on the vertical location of the clouds. The comparison of your ground data to the The comparison of your ground data to the satellite’s data will assist in adjusting the satellite satellite’s data will assist in adjusting the satellite to attain more accurate informationto attain more accurate information

Click on a granule for the date that you are Click on a granule for the date that you are comparing your data with.comparing your data with.

A granule is one complete orbit of the satellite A granule is one complete orbit of the satellite around the earth. Since the satellite orbits more around the earth. Since the satellite orbits more than once a day, there are many granules for any than once a day, there are many granules for any day that you may wish to view. day that you may wish to view.

If the satellite does not pass over your location on If the satellite does not pass over your location on one granule, try another. The UTC can help you one granule, try another. The UTC can help you pick. It should match close to your observation pick. It should match close to your observation Universal Time.Universal Time.

Click on a granule for the date that you are Click on a granule for the date that you are comparing your data with.comparing your data with.

A granule is one complete orbit of the satellite A granule is one complete orbit of the satellite around the earth. Since the satellite orbits more around the earth. Since the satellite orbits more than once a day, there are many granules for any than once a day, there are many granules for any day that you may wish to view. day that you may wish to view.

If the satellite does not pass over your location on If the satellite does not pass over your location on one granule, try another. The UTC can help you one granule, try another. The UTC can help you pick. It should match close to your observation pick. It should match close to your observation Universal Time.Universal Time.

This page shows the path of one granule.This page shows the path of one granule.

It also shows the cloud and land profile of the entire It also shows the cloud and land profile of the entire granule.granule.

The path is color-coded to match a specific part of the path The path is color-coded to match a specific part of the path to your location on the map.to your location on the map.

This page shows the path of one granule.This page shows the path of one granule.

It also shows the cloud and land profile of the entire It also shows the cloud and land profile of the entire granule.granule.

The path is color-coded to match a specific part of the path The path is color-coded to match a specific part of the path to your location on the map.to your location on the map.

x = longitudex = longitudey = latitudey = latitude

x = distance x = distance along orbit trackalong orbit tracky = altitudey = altitude

Click on the number of the color that Click on the number of the color that matches closest to your location.matches closest to your location.

The map then shows you the cloud and land The map then shows you the cloud and land profile that spans that section of the orbital profile that spans that section of the orbital path.path.

This is the cloud profile above landThis is the cloud profile above land

This is the layout of the groundThis is the layout of the ground

This is another view to show how theThis is another view to show how theland, or in this case water, laysland, or in this case water, laysgeographicallygeographically

Click on the number of the color that Click on the number of the color that matches closest to your location.matches closest to your location.

The map then shows you the cloud and land The map then shows you the cloud and land profile that spans that section of the orbital profile that spans that section of the orbital path.path.

This is the cloud profile above landThis is the cloud profile above land

This is the layout of the groundThis is the layout of the ground

This is another view to show how theThis is another view to show how theland, or in this case water, laysland, or in this case water, laysgeographicallygeographically

Cloudsat can even see through thick cloudsCloudsat can even see through thick clouds

But it cannot see dust orBut it cannot see dust orthin cloudsthin clouds

Cloudsat can even see through thick cloudsCloudsat can even see through thick clouds

But it cannot see dust orBut it cannot see dust orthin cloudsthin clouds

Interpreting the ImageInterpreting the Image

WarningWarning This is raw data and is not yet calibrated. This is raw data and is not yet calibrated.

The land profiling may appear to have The land profiling may appear to have “steps” and is not a smooth layout.“steps” and is not a smooth layout.

The satellite only views directly under its The satellite only views directly under its path of orbit, so your observations should path of orbit, so your observations should match the best on days when the satellite match the best on days when the satellite passes almost directly overhead. You passes almost directly overhead. You can determine these days from the can determine these days from the detailed S’COOL overpass schedule you detailed S’COOL overpass schedule you received through e-mail.received through e-mail.

This is raw data and is not yet calibrated. This is raw data and is not yet calibrated. The land profiling may appear to have The land profiling may appear to have “steps” and is not a smooth layout.“steps” and is not a smooth layout.

The satellite only views directly under its The satellite only views directly under its path of orbit, so your observations should path of orbit, so your observations should match the best on days when the satellite match the best on days when the satellite passes almost directly overhead. You passes almost directly overhead. You can determine these days from the can determine these days from the detailed S’COOL overpass schedule you detailed S’COOL overpass schedule you received through e-mail.received through e-mail.

Overpass ScheduleOverpass Schedule

A near-overhead A near-overhead satellite overpasssatellite overpass

A near-overhead A near-overhead satellite overpasssatellite overpass

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Langley Research Center

Hampton, VA 23681

www.nasa.gov