ESA's Core Earth Explorer Atmospheric Dynamics Mission (ADM-Aeolus) will provide observations of wind profiles from space to improve the quality of weather forecasts, and to advance our understanding of atmospheric dynamics and climate processes. It is the first instrument to provide a three-dimensional global coverage of wind observations.

ADM-Aeolus will utilise an active High Spectral Resolution Doppler Wind Lidar (DWL) to retrieve wind observations from both atmospheric molecules, aerosols and cloud particles. In addition, ADM-Aeolus will provide information on cloud top heights, the vertical distribution of clouds and aerosol properties.

It is widely recognised that a new global atmospheric observing system, such as ADM-Aeolus, will be beneficial for operational weather forecasting. The provision of detailed wind profiles will also benefit scientists involved with climate research, allowing for greater accuracy in the numerical modelling of tropical regions in particular.

Our activities span a large range of mission support covering

• Instrument simulation
• Definition of instrument calibration and sampling strategies
• Impact simulation experiments in numerical weather prediction models, including extreme weather events
• building and testing the ground processing software
• Preparation for Calibration/Validation campaigns
• Definition of future (post-ADM-Aeolus) Doppler wind lidar satellites

The scheduled launch of ADM-Aeolus is November 2013. Ad Stoffelen
Gert-Jan Marseille
Jos de Kloe
Karim Houchi
The KNMI contribution to the ADM-Aeolus programme is done in an international context through projects funded by ESA. The ADM-Aeolus mission was awarded by the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management in 2004 with a PhD position as part of the 150 year anniversary of KNMI. Please contact Gert-Jan Marseille.