1. CALIPSO Data: A Tutorial The CERES S’COOL Project National Aeronautics and Space Administration www.nasa.gov

2. Getting There  Go to http://www- calipso.larc.nasa.gov/products/lidar/http://www- calipso.larc.nasa.gov/products/lidar/  Then scroll down to the calendar, and click on the date you need data from Satellite data lags ground data, so you may have to wait a couple days  Go to http://www- calipso.larc.nasa.gov/products/lidar/http://www- calipso.larc.nasa.gov/products/lidar/  Then scroll down to the calendar, and click on the date you need data from Satellite data lags ground data, so you may have to wait a couple days

3. Satellite Tracks  If you scroll down, you should see a picture of the world with many colored lines representing the path of CALIPSO  But the tracks you actually want are further down…  If you scroll down, you should see a picture of the world with many colored lines representing the path of CALIPSO  But the tracks you actually want are further down…

4. Satellite Tracks  …here, where the whole track has been divided into smaller sections (if you don’t see 4 cloud profiles, click the view full size button)  In this case, the track passes over the Midwest  …here, where the whole track has been divided into smaller sections (if you don’t see 4 cloud profiles, click the view full size button)  In this case, the track passes over the Midwest

5. Location Finding  Each differently colored part of the track corresponds to a different group of LIDAR images, as shown by the arrows  For example, only the pink section crosses the Midwest  Each differently colored part of the track corresponds to a different group of LIDAR images, as shown by the arrows  For example, only the pink section crosses the Midwest

6. The CALIPSO orbit track Black line: Segment of the CALIPSO orbit track Oct. 27, 2006 Blue segment: portion of CALIPSO orbit track we will focus on here Begins at 7:13:57 UTC (3:13:57 am Eastern Standard Time in US) Black line: Segment of the CALIPSO orbit track Oct. 27, 2006 Blue segment: portion of CALIPSO orbit track we will focus on here Begins at 7:13:57 UTC (3:13:57 am Eastern Standard Time in US) x = longitude y = latitude

7. Interpreting the Image  Clicking on one of the images will show you a larger version labeled with altitude, latitude and longitude x = distance along orbit track y = altitude

8. Interpreting the Image  The upper formations represent clouds, while a red line towards the bottom shows the approximate profile of the land below Clouds Land  The upper formations represent clouds, while a red line towards the bottom shows the approximate profile of the land below Clouds Land

9. Interpreting the Image  Dust layers also appear, usually near the surface. Dust Land  Dust layers also appear, usually near the surface. Dust Land

10. Interpreting the Image Lidar cannot penetrate thick clouds (dark = no signal) Lidar “sees through” thin clouds

11. Horizontal + Vertical: How they line up Signals over North America Signals over The Tropics

12. Tips  Make sure to view all three pictures for one region, the different lasers may show different views of the clouds below.  Remember that CALIPSO only looks at a small section of clouds directly below it, so your observations should match the best on days when the satellite passes almost directly overhead. You can determine these days from the detailed S’COOL overpass schedule you received through e-mail.  Make sure to view all three pictures for one region, the different lasers may show different views of the clouds below.  Remember that CALIPSO only looks at a small section of clouds directly below it, so your observations should match the best on days when the satellite passes almost directly overhead. You can determine these days from the detailed S’COOL overpass schedule you received through e-mail.

13. Overpass Schedule  A near-overhead satellite overpass

14. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Langley Research Center Hampton, VA 23681 www.nasa.gov