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EarthCARE Satellite

EarthCARE:
The largest and most complex Earth Explorer to date.
Date:
Launched on May 29th, 2024
Objective:
Enhance understanding of clouds and aerosols in reflecting solar radiation and trapping Earth's infrared radiation.

EarthCARE Mission:


  • EarthCARE’s 4 instruments:
    • Radar (CPR): cloud & precipitation
    • Lidar (ATLID): aerosols & thin ice cloud
    • Multispectral imager (MSI): horizontal context & information
    • Radiometer (BBR): radiation emitted or reflected by Earth

  • Science Objectives:
    • Measuring cloud, light precip. and aerosol properties
    • Contribute to Earth radiation budget studies
    • Understand Aerosol-Cloud-Radiation Interactions
    • Evaluate/improve weather and climate models
ecSatellite

First Results from EarthCARE’s Active Sensors

Cloud Profiling Radar (94 GHz)

earthCare12a

Atmospheric Lidar (355 nm)

earthCare12b
Courtesy of ESA
Denser ice/liquid clouds + precipitation
+
Thin ice clouds (cloud top) + aerosols
Synergetic retrieval (radar + lidar + imager): full picture of clouds & aerosols