Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations

The CALIPSO satellite provides new insight into the role that clouds and atmospheric aerosols play in regulating Earth's weather, climate, and air quality. CALIPSO combines an active lidar instrument with passive infrared and visible imagers to probe the vertical structure and properties of thin clouds and aerosols over the globe. CALIPSO was launched on April 28, 2006, with the CloudSat satellite. CALIPSO and CloudSat are highly complementary and together provide new, never-before-seen 3D perspectives of how clouds and aerosols form, evolve, and affect weather and climate. CALIPSO and CloudSat fly in formation with three other satellites in the A-train constellation to enable an even greater understanding of our climate system.

CALIPSO卫星对云层及大气气溶胶在调节地球气候、天气和空气质量中所扮演的角色提供了新的洞见。该卫星通过结合主动激光雷达仪器与被动红外和可见光成像仪，对全球范围内薄云和气溶胶的垂直结构和性质进行探测。CALIPSO于2006年4月28日与CloudSat卫星一同发射。CALIPSO与CloudSat两者功能互补，共同提供了关于云层和气溶胶如何形成、演变及其对天气和气候影响的新颖且前所未有的三维视角。CALIPSO与CloudSat与其他三颗卫星组成A列车星座，以实现对气候系统的更深入理解。