Researchers receive NASA grant to improve satellite observations

Xiquan Dong and Baike Xi in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences recently received $348,357 from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to improve satellite-derived data that are used to figure out what’s going on in the Earth’s atmosphere.

That’s the broad-brush picture of what this research is about. More specifically, this UND research project is titled “Validation of CERES-derived satellite cloud properties using the ARM data collected at China and Azores during 2008-2010.”

The goal of Dong’s and Xi’s research is to improve satellite estimates of cloud properties over the highly polluted region of eastern Asia. The project also includes similar work over the Atlantic Ocean. Dong worked at NASA Langley Research Center, validating satellite products with surface data.

CERES stands for Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System. It is a satellite-mounted system used to study the energy exchanged between the Sun; the Earth’s atmosphere, surface, and clouds; and outer space. CERES-equipped spacecraft provide global coverage of energy radiated and reflected from the Earth. Scientists such as Dong and Xi use measurements from these satellites to improve observations of the daily cycle of radiated energy.

CERES measures the energy at the top of the atmosphere, and it estimates energy levels in the atmosphere and at the Earth’s surface. Using information from very high-resolution cloud imaging instruments on the same spacecraft, CERES also retrieves cloud properties, including altitude, thickness, and the size of the cloud particles. All of these measurements are critical for advancing the understanding of the Earth’s climate system and the accuracy of climate prediction models.

Dong and Xi will be using the ground-based measurements from the U.S. Department of EnergyAtmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Mobile Facility and NASA CloudSat/CALIPSO satellite observations as “cloud-truth” datasets. CALIPSO stands for Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation.

Dong is a co-investigator on the NASA CERES Science Team. He has received more than $1.2 million in research grants from the NASA CERES climate change study project since 2004.