Description:

With advances in satellite remote sensing, satellites have been providing valuable cloud observations for decades. Although satellite-based 3D cloud data have a relatively shorter historical record here, these data from active sensors or active-passive combined approaches have become crucial for improving our understanding of Earth's environmental systems by adding the vertical dimension.

Providing detailed vertical and horizontal cloud structures is important for a variety of applications, ranging from improving weather predictions to enhancing climate models. This session will highlight the significant contributions of previous, current, and future satellite missions such CloudSat, CALIPSO, GPM, EarthCARE,  NASA's CALIGOLA and AOS, and applied research efforts, which provide critical insights and serve as a foundation for leveraging satellite remote sensing to analyze cloud dynamics, radiative impacts, and cloud processes in a 3D context. Topics will include the integration and intercomparison of satellite-derived 3D cloud data and numerical weather prediction (NWP) models, as well as multi-sensor data fusions to create more comprehensive and accurate depictions of atmospheric cloud processes.

Researchers and practitioners will have the opportunity to explore innovative techniques and interdisciplinary collaborations that enhance the use of satellite-derived 3D cloud information for weather and climate studies. The session also aims to drive in-depth discussions to bridge the gap between data developers and users, with a focus on practical applications in both research and operational environments.