Global Cloud and Aerosol Dataset Produced by the Global Retrieval of ATSR Cloud Parameters and Evaluation (GRAPE) Project as part of the Clouds, Water Vapour and Climate (CWVC) Programme

The aim of the GRAPE project was to produce a global cloud and aerosol dataset using a state-of-the-art physical retrieval of the entire duration of the Along Track Scanning Radiometer 2 (ATSR-2) mission (aboard ERS-2). This dataset will be compared and contrasted with existing climatologies (based on different instruments and very different retrieval algorithms). The GRAPE project was initially funded through the Clouds, Water Vapour and Climate (CWVC) Programme, a five-year NERC directed research programme. The dataset has been developed further within the National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO) and now includes data from the Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR). The GRAPE dataset contains cloud optical depth, aerosol optical depth (cloud free), cloud phase, cloud particle size, cloud top pressure, cloud fraction and cloud ice/water path along with associated error measurements.GRAPE项目的核心目标是采用前沿物理反演手段，处理沿轨扫描辐射计2号（Along Track Scanning Radiometer 2, ATSR-2）全任务周期的观测数据（该仪器搭载于欧洲遥感卫星2号（European Remote-Sensing Satellite 2, ERS-2）），以此构建全球云与气溶胶数据集。该数据集将与现有气候数据集（基于不同观测仪器与差异化反演算法构建）开展对比分析。GRAPE项目最初由云、水汽与气候（Clouds, Water Vapour and Climate, CWVC）计划资助，该计划是一项为期五年的英国自然环境研究委员会（Natural Environment Research Council, NERC）主导的研究项目。该数据集后续在国家地球观测中心（National Centre for Earth Observation, NCEO）得到进一步完善，如今还纳入了先进沿轨扫描辐射计（Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer, AATSR）的观测数据。GRAPE数据集包含云光学厚度、晴空气溶胶光学厚度、云相态、云粒子尺度、云顶气压、云量以及云冰路径与云液水路径，并附带对应的误差测量数据。