Using BeCOOL microlidar for satellite calibration/validation

Key Points

• This study aims to evaluate the performance of the BeCOOL microlidar for monitoring high clouds and its potential for satellite calibration and validation.
• Three BeCOOL instruments were deployed on stratospheric balloons along the equator.
• High-resolution nighttime lidar profiles were collected over hundreds of hours.
• Comparative case studies were conducted with CALIOP lidar observations.
• Very good agreement was found between BeCOOL and CALIOP observations.
• BeCOOL demonstrated enhanced sensitivity to ultra-thin clouds.
• The findings support future calibration and validation of upcoming space-borne lidar missions.

Abstract