Satellite cloud microphysical retrieval validation using lidar and radar measurements

The Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) at the University of Wisconsin - Madison is implementing the atmospheric Product Evaluation and Algorithm Test Element (PEATE) for the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP). As part of this project a comprehensive set of validation data is being organized that encompasses active and passive measurements from a variety of locations such as the ARM CART sites. As part of this effort a protocol is being developed to use these validation data sets to evaluate the performance of NPP cloud and atmosphere products. The PEATE will be evaluating numerous techniques that derive cloud and atmosphere products. Our validation protocol will provide a mechanism to assess the performance of each approach consistently. This paper will present preliminary validation methods for a subset of the NPP cloud products. The validation methods for cloud top height, cloud effective radius, and cloud phase will be presented with the goal of developing methods that account for physical sensitivity differences, time and space sampling, and measurement uncertainties between the validation and satellite measurements. The AIRS and MODIS sounder and imager on the NASA EOS Aqua satellite will be used to simulate the NPP cloud products. The validation methods will focus on operational High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) and Millimeter Cloud Radar (MMCR) measurements at the NOAA ETL SEARCH facility at Eureka Canada and the Raman lidar and MMCR measurements at the ARM Central Great Plains facility.