Validation of EarthCARE Cloud and Precipitation Products through the WegenerNet 3D Open-Air Laboratory facilities

The WegenerNet 3D Open-Air Laboratory for Climate Change Research, located in southeastern Austria in an area of about 22 km x 16 km around the city of Feldbach (46.93°N, 15.90°E), provides a unique setup for atmospheric monitoring and validation of satellite data products. Its 3D instrumentation consists of a polarimetric X-band Doppler weather radar, a microwave radiometer for vertical profiling of temperature, humidity, and cloud liquid water, an infrared cloud structure radiometer, and a water-vapor-mapping GNSS station network. These 3D sensors complement the high-density WegenerNet hydrometeorological ground station network, which is comprised of 156 stations measuring precipitation, temperature, humidity, and (at selected locations) wind as well as soil parameters. This highly synergistic measurement setup enables robust internal cross-evaluation, calibration and quality control for obtaining reliable observations and derived WegenerNet data products. The 3D instrumentation is operational since mid-2021 and will provide a consistent validation reference data record throughout the EarthCARE mission lifetime. With its ground-based observations of cloud base height, melting layer base and top heights, liquid water content, precipitation rates, and hydrometeor classification, the WegenerNet contributes specifically to the validation of EarthCARE L2a and L2b cloud and precipitation data products. This presentation summarizes the validation preparation activities carried out so far, with focus on the EarthCARE validation rehearsal, and gives an outlook on the planned post-launch validation work during the actual cal/val phase.