Development of China’s first space-borne aerosol-cloud high-spectral-resolution lidar: retrieval algorithm and airborne demonstration

Abstract Aerosols and clouds greatly affect the Earth’s radiation budget global climate. Light detection ranging (lidar) has been recognized as a promising active remote sensing technique for vertical observations of aerosols clouds. China launched its first space-borne aerosol-cloud high-spectral-resolution lidar (ACHSRL) on April 16, 2022, which is capable high accuracy profiling around globe. This study presents retrieval algorithm aerosol cloud optical properties from ACHSRL were compared with end-to-end Monte-Carlo simulations validated data an airborne flight prototype (A2P) instrument. Using imaging denoising, threshold discrimination, iterative reconstruction methods, this was developed calibration, feature detection, extinction coefficient (EC) retrievals. The simulation results show that 95.4% backscatter (BSC) have error less than 12% while EC 24%. Cirrus marine urban identified based measurements over different surface types. Then, comparisons made U.S. Cloud-Aerosol Lidar Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) profiles, Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), ground-based sun photometers. High correlations ( R > 0.79) found between BSC profiles A2P CALIOP forest town cover, correlation coefficients are 0.57 0.58 ocean cover; depth retrievals 0.71 MODIS spatial variations consistent those in can be directly employed future (HSRL) products will also supplement coverage properties.