Advancements in COSP Lidar Simulator Development for Aeolus Satellite Instrument and Future Applications for Earth Care

The Aeolus mission,  conducted by the European Space Agency (ESA), relies on lidar technology to measure global wind profiles and observe Earth's atmosphere, and in particular clouds that will be the subject of special attention with the incoming Earth Care mission. In future climate predictions generated through climate models, clouds represent the greatest source of uncertainty. Therefore, it is crucial to study them, especially within the atmospheric column, as their vertical distribution has a radiative impact which is poorly known. Active lidar remote sensing technology onboard satellites is a valuable way of conducting measurements accross the atmosphere. However, cloud comparison between observational data and models is challenging due to differences in their definitions. To address this issue, a simulator is employed to model cloud-specific features as they would appear to a given instrument if it were flying over the modeled Earth.

This research initiative enhances the functionalities of the existing CFMIP Observation Simulator Package (COSP) (Bodas Salcedo, 2011). Our developments rest on the advancements achieved in adapting COSP for various satellite instruments in the past (Chepfer, 2006 & 2008) and its improvements over the years (Swales, 2018 - Bonazzola, 2023). The ongoing work focuses on refining the specifities of the current simulator to meet the unique requirements of the lidar of the Aeolus satellite and preparing thoses of ATLID onboard Earth Care satellite.

The success of this development is optimistic for the future creation of the simulator of the lidar of the Earth Care satellite that may be launched this year, showing the adaptability and versatility of this tool. Ultimately, these advancements contribute to the broader scientific community by providing a sophisticated tool for the analysis of satellite data and the validation of model predictions across various satellite missions (Cesana, 2013).