The aim of this project is to improve the characterization of radiative and microphysical properties of aerosols and clouds
in the atmosphere. These two atmospheric components and their interactions are among the main sources of uncertainty
in the numerical forecast of climate change. In this context, we have designed a new airborne polarimeter for measuring
directional, total and polarized radiances in the 440 to 2200 nm spectral range. This instrument is based on the POLDER
concept, instrument that is currently aboard the PARASOL microsatellite. This new sensor consists in two optical
systems for the visible to near infrared range (440 to 940 nm) and the shortwave infrared (940 to 2200 nm). Each optical
system is composed of a wide field-of-view optics (114° and 105° respectively) associated to two rotating wheels for
interferential filters and analysers respectively, and a 2D array of detectors. For each channel, the total and polarized
radiances are computed using the measurements performed with the three analysers shifted by an angle of 60°. Thanks to
the large field of view of the optics, any target is seen under several viewing angles during the aircraft motion. This type
of instrument has been designed for the retrieval of optical thickness and microphysical properties of aerosols as well as
for the determination of microphysical, macrophysical and radiative properties of clouds. In this paper, we will present
this new instrument design and some preliminary results recently obtained during the first field campaign in May 2008
over Europe.
Conference Committee Involvement (2)
Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Clouds
13 November 2006 | Goa, India
Passive Optical Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Clouds IV
9 November 2004 | Honolulu, Hawai'i, United States
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