Abstract

GLOBE was initiated in 1986 as a cooperative interagency and international research program to develop a model of the spatial, temporal, and spectral variability of atmospheric aerosol backscatter (Bowdle et al., 1995a,b). This research was needed to provide realistic inputs for development studies on NASA’s prospective satellite Doppler lidar (SDL) wind sensor (Baker et al., 1995). SDL concept selection and design optimization studies need threshold backscatter values or typical backscatter profiles for selected global-scale atmospheric targets that are required to meet baseline SDL science objectives. Global SDL Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSE’s) require detailed backscatter information in a conveniently accessible, computationally friendly, three-dimensional gridded format (Baker et al., 1995). In addition, SDL science planning studies frequently require information on backscatter magnitude and structure for a wide variety of mesoscale to regional scale meteorological features.

© 1995 Optical Society of America