12.08.06: Public release of CALIPSO Data Products

The Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellite mission is pleased to announce an initial release of its data products. CALIPSO provides new insight into the role that clouds and atmospheric aerosols (airborne particles) play in regulating Earth's weather, climate, and air quality. CALIPSO is a joint mission between NASA and CNES, the French space agency.

CALIPSO's payload includes an active lidar (CALIOP), a passive Infrared Imaging Radiometer (IIR), and visible Wide Field Camera. This data release consists of data beginning in mid June 2006 and includes Level 1 radiances from each of the instruments. This release also includes the lidar Level 2 vertical feature mask and cloud and aerosol layer products. The CALIPSO data are available through the Atmospheric Sciences Data Center (ASDC) at NASA Langley Research Center and can be accessed at the following URL:

» + http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/PRODOCS/calipso/table_calipso.html

Reference resources on the CALIPSO data set, including detailed data quality summaries and a data catalog are also available at the ASDC CALIPSO page.

If you have questions concerning the ordering of CALIPSO data products, contact User Services at larc@eos.nasa.gov.