Description:

In August 2018, ESA launched Aeolus, the first ever  Doppler Wind Lidar system in space, for a 3 year demonstration mission. Organized European and international calibration and validation (Cal/Val) efforts have helped the Aeolus teams to characterize uncertainty in the observations, refine the data products, and understand the impact these products may have on improving the skill of various forecast models. By fall 2019, ECMWF had demonstrated the value of Aeolus observations on their forecast model and started assimilating Aeolus winds operationally.  International Cal/Val efforts are still ongoing and include both data assimilation and forecast model impact assessment as well as direct measurement comparison with other wind observations, including radiosondes, radar wind profilers, and airborne and ground-based Doppler lidars. This session seeks presentations on various activities related to the Aeolus mission, with an emphasis on validation and impact assessment of the satellite's observations.