ATLAS

Lidar algorithms for the Earth Clouds and Radiation Explorer mission (EarthCARE)

The ATLID Algorithms and Level 2 System Aspects (ATLAS) project ran between is part of a number of ESA funded projects regarding the development, implementation, verification and validation of EarthCARE derived Geophysical data products (level 2 products). EarthCARE will study the spatial (3D) distribution of clouds and aerosols and their impact on the Earth's radiative balance. To do this, the EarthCARE platform will carry a combination of active and passive sensors.

The ATLAS project was part of the phase 1 research and development effort mainly focused on the ATLID only algorithms. This first phase was dedicated to the definition of the L2 data products and the identification and theoretical development of L2 algorithms. Main outputs of this phase are the L2 product and algorithm requirement specifications, documentation of the theoretical scientific basis of the selected L2 algorithms and algorithm validation.

The project ran from 2009 to 2011.

ATLAS processing chain.