GOES-R Post-Launch Airborne Science Field Campaign: An Independent Validation of NOAA's Next Generation Geostationary Imager

The GOES-R post-launch airborne science field campaign was conducted in support of the post-launch validation of NOAA’s next generation geostationary Earth observing instruments: the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) and the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM). Sixteen NASA high-altitude ER-2 aircraft validation missions were conducted (March 21 to May 17, 2017 - total of 105.1 mission flight hours) over ideal Earth validation targets (desert & ocean), thunderstorms, active wildfires, and an expansive set of cloud and moisture phenomenology. This work will present on the collection methodologies and initial results of the ABI field campaign validation mission sets. Three ABI primary validation missions were conducted (two desert & one ocean) with the objective to validate the SI traceability of ABI radiance data (L1b product) that required ABI special collections, unique aircraft maneuvers, coordinated ground validation teams, and a diplomatic flight clearance with the Mexican Government. Validation mission sets and results in support of ABI L2+ products will also be discussed. The GOES-R field campaign provided critical reference data and new insights into the performance NOAA’s next generation geostationary Earth observing instrument products.