Aerosol Extinction / Backscatter (Column/Profile) Measurement Instruments

Measurements > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Extinction / Backscatter (column/profile)
Measurement Definition: 3D field of spectral volumetric extinction cross-section of aerosol particles - Measuring Units m-1, Uncertainty Units m-1

Thematic Links
InstrumentStatus/
Accuracy
Instrument DescriptionMeasurement TechnologyTimeline
ACE-FTSOperationalMeasure and understand the chemical processes that control the distribution of ozone in the Earth's atmosphere, especially at high altitudes.n/a
ATLASOperationalProvide date on ice sheet height and sea ice thickness, land altitude, aerosol height distributions, cloud height and boundary layer height.n/a
MAESTROOperationalChemical processes involved in the depletion of the ozone layer, and now including a high quality water vapour data product.n/a
MSU-MROperationalParameters of clouds, snow, ice and land cover, vegetation, surface temperature, fire detection.n/a
NACHOS Hyperspectral ImagerOperational n/a
OCM (Oceansat-3)OperationalOcean colour data, Estimation of phytoplankton concentration, identification of potential fishing zones, assessment of primary productivity.n/a
OLCIOperationalMarine and land services.n/a
OMIOperationalMapping of ozone columns, key air quality components (NO2, SO2, BrO, OClO and aerosols), measurements of cloud pressure and coverage, global distribution and trends in UV-B radiation.n/a
OMPS-LOperational
+/-0.25 m-1
Measures high resolution vertical distribution of ozone and aerosols.n/a
OSIRISOperationalDetects aerosol layers and abundance of species such as O3, NO2, OClO, BrO and NO. Consists of spectrograph and IR imager.n/a
SAGE-IIIOperationalLimb-viewing measurements of aerosol, O3, H20, NO2, OClO, NO3, temperature and pressure in the stratosphere, upper troposphere, and mesosphere using solar occultation, lunar occultation and limb scatter measurement techniques.n/a
SounderOperationalAtmospheric soundings and data on atmospheric stability and thermal gradient winds.n/a
SPEXoneOperationalPolarimeter for measuring aerosol optical properties, clouds and aerosol types. Multi-angle spectro-polarimetry by spectral modulation technology. Distribution and detailed micro-phyiscal properties of atmospheric aerosol. Direct and indirect aerosol radiative forcing and their impact on climate. A second instance of this instrument is in development.n/a
ACXBeing developed n/a
ATLIDApprovedDerivation of cloud and aerosol properties - Measurement of molecular and particle backscatter in Rayleigh, co-polar and cross-polar Mie channels.n/a
MSI (EarthCARE)ApprovedObservation of cloud properties and aerosol (aerosols to be confirmed).n/a
NIR-SWIRApprovedOcean Colour - Open ocean, coastal & in-land waters. Atmospheric correctionsn/a
Advanced MSU-MRProposedParameters of clouds, snow, ice and land cover, vegetation, surface temperature, fire detection.n/a
ALADIN-2ProposedGlobal wind profiles (single line-of-sight) for an improved weather prediction.n/a
HiRDLSNo longer operationalMeasures atmospheric temperature, concentrations of ozone, water vapour, methane, NOx, N2O, CFCs and other minor species, aerosol concentration, location of polar stratospheric clouds and cloud tops. Currently not collecting data on Aqua.n/a