Airborne validation of spatial properties measured by the CALIPSO lidar

The Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellite provides a new and exciting opportunity to study clouds and aerosols in the Earth's atmosphere using range‐resolved laser remote sensing. Following the successful launch of the CALIPSO satellite, validation flights were conducted using the long‐established Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL) to verify CALIPSO's calibration and validate various CALIPSO data products. This paper presents results of the initial comparisons made between the spaceborne CALIPSO lidar and the airborne CPL. Results are presented to validate measurement sensitivity and the spatial properties reported in the CALIPSO data products. Cloud layer top determinations from CALIPSO are found to be in good agreement with those from CPL. Determinations of minimum detectable backscatter are in excellent agreement with theoretical values predicted prior to launch.