Abstract

NASA has recently initiated a major program, the GLObal Backscatter Experiment (GLOBE), to measure atmospheric aerosol backscatter and related aerosol physical, chemical, and optical properties. The comprehensive aerosol data base from this effort will be used to develop a global-scale model of the typical magnitudes and the spatial / temporal variability of aerosol backscatter. The model will be used in design and simulation studies for NASA’s (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Doppler Lidar Atmospheric Wind Sounder (LAWS) (Baker and Curran, 1985), which is planned for deployment to low earth orbit in the mid 1990’s.

© 1987 Optical Society of America