A SmallSat Lidar Concept for Measurements of Aerosol and Cloud Spatiotemporal Variability

Aerosols and clouds play critical roles in the Earth’s weather, air quality, and climate system at multiple spatiotemporal scales. To achieve better characterization of spatiotemporal variability of aerosols and clouds, we need new sensors and architectures that creatively utilize advanced SmallSat technologies. A compact backscatter lidar has been designed to improve spatiotemporal sampling and fit the current mass, volume, and power limits of a SmallSat. A version of this lidar concept, called the Atmospheric Lidar Instrument for Clouds and Aerosol Transport (ALICAT), is being considered for the NASA Atmosphere Observing System (AOS) mission. ALICAT adds capabilities and improves performance compared to previous space-based lidars. ALICAT is mature, as it draws heritage from the Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) and maturation/testing through Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) investments.