The NASA Micro-Pulse Lidar Network (MPLNET): an overview and recent results MPLNET, Red de lidares Micro-pulso de la NASA: Descripción general y resultados recientes

We present the formation of a global ground-based eye-safe lidar network, the NASA Micro-Pulse Lidar Network (MPLNET) – founded in 2000. The aim of MPLNET is to acquire long-term observations of aerosol and cloud vertical profiles at unique geographic sites collocated with sunphotometers in the NASA Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET). These joint MPLNET/AERONET sites collect data on aerosol and cloud vertical structure, cloud presence, aerosol column optical depth, size distribution, single scatter albedo, and sky radiance. An overview of MPLNET is provided here, including network structure, data products, and recent results from aerosol transport studies and satellite calibration/validation.