Seminar

Abstract

Ten years ago we watched Terra launch into the blue California sky, and usher in a new era in aerosol-cloud remote sensing. The instruments on Terra and subsequently Aqua, Aura, Parasol and CALIPSO have provided a wealth of information on aerosol distribution, loading and particle characteristics. These retrievals have had a broad impact on both research and applied sciences. While we have learned much about aerosols and the atmosphere, we have simultaneously learned about the strengths and limitations of retrievals, the value of combining information from multiple sensors, and the value of a validation strategy. Last December Parasol dropped out of the A-Train constellation. The end of the EOS era is visible. What's next? What are we doing now to continue and expand the current aerosol climate data record? I will focus on the MODIS aerosol retrievals to illustrate the points listed above and discuss ideas for the future, including ideas for new instrumentation and new missions.