Final pictures of Aeolus during its brief stage as area debris obtained by the Space Observation Radar TIRA of Fraunhofer FHR (Note the color represents the radar echo intensity, not temperature level.) Credit: Fraunhofer FHR.
TROPOS involvement throughout the Aeolus objective and preparations for the upcoming EarthCARE mission.
After completing a very effective objective, ESAs Aeolus satellite descended from an elevation of 320 km back to Earths atmosphere. While the satellite would usually drop gradually due to the Earths gravity, ESA managed its first-ever controlled satellite reentry.
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Launched on August 22, 2018, the Aeolus satellite was orbiting the Earth for practically five years while supplying vertical profiles of the horizontal wind speed and backscatter information on clouds and aerosols. Beyond the objective, TROPOS will be involved in the Aeolus Data, Innovation and Science Cluster (DISC) job to improve the information items and improve the scientific effect of the objective. Left: the cloud leading height (through GOES-R geostationary satellite) and the measurement track of Aeolus. “Lessons learned from Aeolus helped us a lot in preparing for the EarthCARE mission. Our associates at TROPOS will continue working on the Aeolus information from the last 5 years within the Aeolus DISC task, notably confirming the reprocessed aerosol products and highlighting novel applications for the atmospheric science neighborhood.
Aeolus was the very first area objective to obtain profiles of the wind on a global scale. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab
This is a short evaluation of scientific experiments that took place quickly before the end of Aeolus mission life in which the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) was involved:
TROPOS Involvement Throughout the entire Mission
Introduced on August 22, 2018, the Aeolus satellite was orbiting the Earth for almost five years while offering vertical profiles of the horizontal wind speed and backscatter information on aerosols and clouds. Beyond the objective, TROPOS will be involved in the Aeolus Data, Innovation and Science Cluster (DISC) task to improve the information items and enhance the scientific impact of the mission.
Analysis of the results from the vertical wind tests with Aeolus. Left: the cloud leading height (via GOES-R geostationary satellite) and the measurement track of Aeolus.
End-of-Life Tests
Before the satellites historical end, the Aeolus group effectively performed a series of end-of-life experiments. The scientists hope that the outcomes of these experiments will help improve future lidar missions in area. The radiometric efficiency of the instrument and the impact on both aerosol and wind products were evaluated in cooperation with the Aeolus DISC for each test.
Vertical Winds
TROPOS was involved in one experiment where the laser was slanted from its small 35-degree diagonal view to a nadir view (point on the Earths surface area straight beneath the satellite) to determine vertical winds over deep convective cloud systems. While vertical air motions are negligible usually over large horizontal scales, this presumption is not legitimate in situations with strong convection (e.g., hurricanes). “While we are still examining the promising data gathered throughout this test, we hope that we can quantify the impact of vertical air movements on the assumptions that are utilized,” says Dr. Sebastian Bley of TROPOS.
ATLID Test
TROPOS was likewise involved in an ATLID test, where the Aeolus laser ALADIN was configured in a method to imitate the ATLID lidar, which will fly on EarthCARE. This test is planned to prepare for the upcoming EarthCARE satellite which will bring a lidar instrument extremely comparable to that flying on Aeolus. “Lessons gained from Aeolus assisted us a lot in preparing for the EarthCARE mission. With its four instruments on one platform for determining aerosols, clouds, and radiation, it is much more challenging than Aeolus,” states Dr. Ulla Wandinger of TROPOS The launch window for the EarthCARE mission is presently scheduled for April-June 2024. While performing the ATLID test, Aeolus was flying over Leipzig and Mindelo at Cape Verde Islands, both stations with ground-based lidar instruments operated by TROPOS.
Final statement by TROPOS.
We followed the Aeolus reentry with blended feelings. On one hand, we are unfortunate about the truth that this terrific satellite burned up in Earths environment, while on the other hand, we are happy and happy that we might add to the success of this amazing objective.
There is likewise reason to look into an intense future. Our work will continue also after Aeolus illuminated the sky like a falling star for the last time. Our associates at TROPOS will continue working on the Aeolus information from the last 5 years within the Aeolus DISC task, significantly confirming the reprocessed aerosol products and highlighting novel applications for the atmospheric science community.
We are greatly involved in the preparation for the upcoming EarthCARE mission, which will be launched in the summertime of next year. TROPOS has a leading function in the development of the processors for the ATLID lidar and the cloud products for the Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI) within the frame of the ESA-CARDINAL job. Moreover, TROPOS is getting ready for the recognition of the EarthCARE measurements with our ground-based measurements sites of the entire globe.
Reference: “HETEAC– the Hybrid End-To-End Aerosol Classification model for EarthCARE” by Ulla Wandinger, Athena Augusta Floutsi, Holger Baars, Moritz Haarig, Albert Ansmann, Anja Hünerbein, Nicole Docter, David Donovan, Gerd-Jan van Zadelhoff, Shannon Mason and Jason Cole, 25 May 2023, Atmospheric Measurement Techniques.DOI: 10.5194/ amt-16-2485-2023.