JAXA Level-2 Algorithms, Validations and Applications Preparation for the EarthCARE

Earth Clouds, Aerosols and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) mission (Illingworth et al. 2015) is designed to produce the maximum synergetic collaboration of European and Japanese science teams (Wehr et al. 2023, Eisinger et al. 2024). The EarthCARE products will be developed and distributed from both JAXA and ESA. Continuous exchanges of information have been conducted between Japan and Europe through the Joint Algorithm Development Endeavor (JADE). CPR, ATLID and MSI Level-2 provide cloud mask, cloud phase and cloud microphysics (such as cloud effective radius, liquid water content, optical depth, etc) for the respective sensor products, together with the synergy products by using the combination of the sensors. Further, the CPR provides the Doppler velocity measurement (which gives the vertical information of the in-cloud velocity), and precipitation products. ATLID Level-2 includes aerosol flagging, aerosol component type (such as dust, black carbon, sea salt and water soluble), as well as the aerosol optical properties including aerosol extinction. The cloud and aerosol products will be used to derive the radiative flux at shortwave and longwave, whose consistency with the BBR will be checked to produce the final radiation product by 4-sensors.

EarthCARE synthetic data using a global storm-resolving (NICAM) and Joint-Simulator (Joint Simulator for Satellite Sensors) have been developed in Japan and used in the JAXA L2 algorithm developments (Roh et al. 2023).

Validation activities are necessary to distribute the scientific products whose quality and reliability are assured. The JAXA is planning the validation activities by utilization of the existing observation network, campaign observation, and cross comparison with other satellite data.

Furthermore, a wide range of application research activities will be planned to achieve the mission objectives. EarthCARE observation data will contribute to understanding cloud, aerosol, and radiation processes, evaluations and improvements of climate models and numerical weather prediction (NWP) models, and atmospheric quality monitoring. JAXA is conducting joint-works with universities and research institutes. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report published in August 2021, “Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the IPCC”, summarizes that the cloud feedback remains the largest contribution to overall uncertainty, and contributions to mitigate the uncertainty can be expected by new insights by the EarthCARE observations.

This presentation will introduce JAXA Level 2, Validation and Applications Preparation for the EarthCARE mission.