EarthCARE DISC (Earth Clouds, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer - Data, Innovation and Science Cluster)
General project description
The EarthCARE DISC is an international consortium of experts in product development, sensors and data processing from 16 organisations, dedicated to supporting ESA’s EarthCARE mission.
Launched in May 2024, the EarthCARE satellite carries a unique combination of active and passive instruments: the Atmospheric Lidar (ATLID), the Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR), the Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI) and the Broadband Radiometer (BBR). Together, these instruments enable simultaneous measurements of the three-dimensional structure of clouds, aerosol and radiation.
The DISC’s primary role is to develop, maintain and enhance Level 1 and Level 2 data processing algorithms, ensuring they meet the evolving user needs and mission requirements. Additionally, the DISC is responsible for data quality control, calibration and validation (Cal/Val) activities for EarthCARE instruments and products, in addition to routine monitoring, leading to algorithm refinements and data reprocessing activities.
Contribution of TROPOS
Scientists in the Remote Sensing Department (RSD) at TROPOS have continuously contributed to EarthCARE since its development phase by studying instrument performance, algorithm developments, and preparation for calibration and validation (Cal/Val) activities.
Within the EarthCARE DISC project, TROPOS is primarily responsible for maintaining and refining the Level 2 algorithms for the aerosol and cloud products from the MSI instrument, aerosol-layer and cloud products from ATLID and the synergistic ATLID-MSI cloud and aerosol products. Several RSD scientists involved in EarthCARE DISC, have been working with ESA in the EarthCARE-related projects IRMA, APRIL, and CARDINAL on Level 2 algorithm developments.
Dr. Anja Hünerbein and Dr. Sebastian Bley oversee the development of MSI cloud products, Nicole Docter is responsible for the MSI aerosol products and Dr. Ulla Wandinger, Dr. Athena Augusta Floutsi and Dr. Moritz Haarig for the ATLID cloud and aerosol-layer and the synergistic MSI-ATLID aerosol and cloud products. Nils Madenach and Dr. Sebastian Bley developed the MSI tool for radiative transfer simulations across the MSI spectral bands. Dr. Ulla Wandinger, Dr. Athena Augusta Floutsi, Dr. Moritz Haarig, Dr. Holger Baars, Dr. Anja Hünerbein and Nicole Docter have also developed the the Hybrid End-To-End Aerosol Classification (HETEAC) model for EarthCARE, which served as a common baseline for the development of several EarthCARE products. In addition to the Level 2 algorithm development activities, Dr. Holger Baars serves as part of the scientific coordination team for the EarthCARE validation projects.
Dr. Ulla Wandinger coordinates the German Initiative for the Validation of EarthCARE (GIVE) and is member of the EarthCARE Quality Working Group. Dr. Holger Baars is the Principle Investigator of the EC-funded ATMO-ACCESS pilot activity for EarthCARE Cal/Val by ACTRIS, the European Aerosol, Clouds, and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure. Add one sentence and link to AIRSENSE? In parallel, the group has been involved in the Aeolus DISC project, worked on the preparation of the Aeolus mission, and participated in the Aeolus Cal/Val programme.
Project info
Funded by European Space Agency (Reference: AO/1-12009/24/I-NS)
Official project page
Publications
Wandinger, U., Floutsi, A. A., Baars, H., Haarig, M., Ansmann, A., Hünerbein, A., Docter, N., Donovan, D., van Zadelhoff, G.-J., Mason, S., and Cole, J.: HETEAC – the Hybrid End-To-End Aerosol Classification model for EarthCARE, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 2485–2510, doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2485-2023, 2023.
Wandinger, U., Haarig, M., Baars, H., Donovan, D., and van Zadelhoff, G.-J.: Cloud top heights and aerosol layer properties from EarthCARE lidar observations: the A-CTH and A-ALD products, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 4031–4052, doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4031-2023, 2023.
Hünerbein, A., Bley, S., Horn, S., Deneke, H., and Walther, A.: Cloud mask algorithm from the EarthCARE Multi-Spectral Imager: the M-CM products, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 2821–2836, doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2821-2023, 2023.
Docter, N., Preusker, R., Filipitsch, F., Kritten, L., Schmidt, F., and Fischer, J.: Aerosol optical depth retrieval from the EarthCARE Multi-Spectral Imager: the M-AOT product, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 3437–3457, doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-3437-2023, 2023.
Docter, N., Hünerbein, A., Donovan, D. P., Preusker, R., Fischer, J., Meirink, J. F., Stammes, P., and Eisinger, M.: Assessment of the spectral misalignment effect (SMILE) on EarthCARE's Multi-Spectral Imager aerosol and cloud property retrievals, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 2507–2519, doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-2507-2024, 2024.
Haarig, M., Hünerbein, A., Wandinger, U., Docter, N., Bley, S., Donovan, D., and van Zadelhoff, G.-J.: Cloud top heights and aerosol columnar properties from combined EarthCARE lidar and imager observations: the AM-CTH and AM-ACD products, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 5953–5975, doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-5953-2023, 2023.