The Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS): a technology demonstration on the International Space Station

McGill, Matthew J.; Yorks, John E.; Scott, V. Stanley; Kupchock, Andrew; Selmer, Patrick A.

doi:10.1117/12.2190841

Cited by 92 publications

(85 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…CATS is an elastic backscatter lidar employing photon counting detection and two high‐repetition rate lasers that operate at 532 and 1064 nm [ McGill et al , ] that has been operating on the International Space Station (ISS) since February 2015. The ISS orbit, which is at an altitude of ~415 km and a 51° inclination, allows CATS to observe locations at different local times each overpass (~60 days to complete full diurnal cycle) with roughly a 3 day repeat cycle.…”

Section: Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonally transported aerosol layers over southeast Atlantic are closer to underlying clouds than previously reported

Rajapakshe

Zhang

Yorks

et al. 2017

Geophysical Research Letters

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From June to October, low‐level clouds in the southeast (SE) Atlantic often underlie seasonal aerosol layers transported from African continent. Previously, the Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) 532 nm lidar observations have been used to estimate the relative vertical location of the above‐cloud aerosols (ACA) to the underlying clouds. Here we show new observations from NASA's Cloud‐Aerosol Transport System (CATS) lidar. Two seasons of CATS 1064 nm observations reveal that the bottom of the ACA layer is much lower than previously estimated based on CALIPSO 532 nm observations. For about 60% of CATS nighttime ACA scenes, the aerosol layer base is within 360 m distance to the top of the underlying cloud. Our results are important for future studies of the microphysical indirect and semidirect effects of ACA in the SE Atlantic region.

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Section: Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonally transported aerosol layers over southeast Atlantic are closer to underlying clouds than previously reported

Rajapakshe

Zhang

Yorks

et al. 2017

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…The Cloud‐Aerosol Transport System (CATS) is an elastic backscatter lidar that has been operating on the Japanese Experiment Module‐Exposed Facility of the International Space Station (ISS) since February 2015 [ McGill et al ., ]. CATS is primarily a technology demonstration designed to operate for up to 3 years.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An overview of the CATS level 1 processing algorithms and data products

Yorks

McGill

Palm

et al. 2016

Geophysical Research Letters

117

107

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The Cloud‐Aerosol Transport System (CATS) is an elastic backscatter lidar that was launched on 10 January 2015 to the International Space Station (ISS). CATS provides both space‐based technology demonstrations for future Earth Science missions and operational science measurements. This paper outlines the CATS Level 1 data products and processing algorithms. Initial results and validation data demonstrate the ability to accurately detect optically thin atmospheric layers with 1064 nm nighttime backscatter as low as 5.0E−5 km−1 sr−1. This sensitivity, along with the orbital characteristics of the ISS, enables the use of CATS data for cloud and aerosol climate studies. The near‐real‐time downlinking and processing of CATS data are unprecedented capabilities and provide data that have applications such as forecasting of volcanic plume transport for aviation safety and aerosol vertical structure that will improve air quality health alerts globally.

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“…Regional aircraft and ground-based campaigns, such as the Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX) , the Asian Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE-Asia) , the Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment (INTEX-B) (McKendry et al, 2008), the Aeolian Dust Experiment on Climate Impact (ADEC) (Mikami et al, 2006), the NASA Transport and Chemical Evolution over the Pacific (TRACE-P) (Jacob et al, 2003), and the Pacific Dust Experiment (PACDEX) (Stith et al, 2009) have contributed considerably to our knowledge and understanding of Asian dust. In addition to the field campaigns, extensive measurements on the spatial variability and temporal evolution of dust aerosols are required in order to assess their contribution to climate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nine-year spatial and temporal evolution of desert dust aerosols over South and East Asia as revealed by CALIOP

et al. 2018

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Abstract. We present a 3-D climatology of the desert dust distribution over South and East Asia derived using CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation) data. To distinguish desert dust from total aerosol load we apply a methodology developed in the framework of EARLINET (European Aerosol Research Lidar Network). The method involves the use of the particle linear depolarization ratio and updated lidar ratio values suitable for Asian dust, applied to multiyear CALIPSO observations (January 2007-December 2015. The resulting dust product provides information on the horizontal and vertical distribution of dust aerosols over South and East Asia along with the seasonal transition of dust transport pathways. Persistent high D_AOD (dust aerosol optical depth) values at 532 nm, of the order of 0.6, are present over the arid and semi-arid desert regions. Dust aerosol transport (range, height and intensity) is subject to high seasonality, with the highest values observed during spring for northern China (Taklimakan and Gobi deserts) and during summer over the Indian subcontinent (Thar Desert). Additionally, we decompose the CALIPSO AOD (aerosol optical depth) into dust and non-dust aerosol components to reveal the nondust AOD over the highly industrialized and densely populated regions of South and East Asia, where the non-dust aerosols yield AOD values of the order of 0.5. Furthermore, the CALIPSO-based short-term AOD and D_AOD time series and trends between January 2007 and December 2015 are calculated over South and East Asia and over selectedPublished by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. 1338 E. Proestakis et al.: Nine-year spatial and temporal evolution of desert dust aerosols subregions. Positive trends are observed over northwest and east China and the Indian subcontinent, whereas over southeast China trends are mostly negative. The calculated AOD trends agree well with the trends derived from Aqua MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer), although significant differences are observed over specific regions.

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The Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS): a technology demonstration on the International Space Station

Cited by 92 publications

References 7 publications

Seasonally transported aerosol layers over southeast Atlantic are closer to underlying clouds than previously reported

Seasonally transported aerosol layers over southeast Atlantic are closer to underlying clouds than previously reported

An overview of the CATS level 1 processing algorithms and data products

Nine-year spatial and temporal evolution of desert dust aerosols over South and East Asia as revealed by CALIOP

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