Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1221
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1221
20 Jun 2023
 | 20 Jun 2023

Opinion: Aerosol Remote Sensing Over The Next Twenty Years

Lorraine A. Remer, Robert C. Levy, and J. Vanderlei Martins

Abstract. Twenty years ago, aerosol remote sensing underwent a revolution with the launch of the Terra and Aqua satellites, followed by additional launches carrying new passive and active sensors. Capable of retrieving information about aerosol loading, rudimentary particle properties and in some cases aerosol layer height, the satellite view of Earth’s aerosol system came into focus. Today we see trends developing in the aerosol remote sensing and modeling communities that allow us to speculate about the future and how the community will approach aerosol remote sensing twenty years from now. We anticipate technology that will replace today’s standard multi-wavelength radiometers with hyperspectral and/or polarimetry all viewing in multiple angles. These will be supported by advanced active sensors with the ability to measure profiles of aerosol extinction in addition to backscatter. The result will be greater insight into aerosol particle properties. Algorithms will move from being primarily physically-based to include an increasing degree of Machine Learning methods, but physically-based techniques will not go extinct. However, the concept of applying algorithms to a single sensor will no longer exist. Retrieval algorithms will encompass multiple sensors and all available ground measurements into a unifying framework, and these inverted products will be ingested directly into assimilation systems, becoming “cyborgs”: half observations, half model. In twenty years we will see a true democratization in space with nations large and small, private organizations and commercial entities of all sizes launching space sensors. With this increasing amount of data and aerosol products available, there will be a lot of bad data. User communities will organize to set standards and the large national space agencies will lead the effort to maintain quality by deploying and maintaining validation ground networks and focused field experiments. Through it all, interest will remain high in the global aerosol system and how that systems affects climate, clouds, precipitation and dynamics, air quality, transport of pathogens and fertilization of ecosystems, and how these processes are adapting to a changing climate.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

20 Feb 2024
| Highlight paper
Opinion: Aerosol remote sensing over the next 20 years
Lorraine A. Remer, Robert C. Levy, and J. Vanderlei Martins
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 2113–2127, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2113-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2113-2024, 2024
Short summary Executive editor
Lorraine A. Remer, Robert C. Levy, and J. Vanderlei Martins

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-1221', Anonymous Referee #1, 30 Jun 2023
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Lorraine Remer, 12 Sep 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-1221', Zhanqing Li, 13 Jul 2023
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Lorraine Remer, 12 Sep 2023

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-1221', Anonymous Referee #1, 30 Jun 2023
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Lorraine Remer, 12 Sep 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-1221', Zhanqing Li, 13 Jul 2023
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Lorraine Remer, 12 Sep 2023

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Lorraine Remer on behalf of the Authors (28 Sep 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (11 Oct 2023) by Xiaohong Liu
RR by Ralph Kahn (15 Oct 2023)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (27 Oct 2023) by Xiaohong Liu
AR by Lorraine Remer on behalf of the Authors (03 Nov 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (23 Nov 2023) by Xiaohong Liu
ED: Publish as is (16 Dec 2023) by James Allan (Executive editor)
AR by Lorraine Remer on behalf of the Authors (25 Dec 2023)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

20 Feb 2024
| Highlight paper
Opinion: Aerosol remote sensing over the next 20 years
Lorraine A. Remer, Robert C. Levy, and J. Vanderlei Martins
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 2113–2127, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2113-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2113-2024, 2024
Short summary Executive editor
Lorraine A. Remer, Robert C. Levy, and J. Vanderlei Martins
Lorraine A. Remer, Robert C. Levy, and J. Vanderlei Martins

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The influence aerosols have on climate has long been recognised, but our ability to observe and quantify them on global scales came of age with the use of new satellite-based instruments and data products in recent decades. As instrumentation technologies improve alongside our abilities to handle large quantities of data and process using the latest data science approaches, the data products available to atmospheric science will only improve in decades to come. This opinion article tries to anticipate what tools and insights the community can look forward to in the near future.
Short summary
Aerosols are small liquid or solid particles suspended in the atmosphere, including smoke, particulate pollution, dust, and sea salt. Today, we rely on satellites viewing Earth's atmosphere to learn about these particles. Here, we speculate into the future to imagine how satellite viewing of aerosols will change. We expect more public and private satellites with greater capability, better ways to infer information from satellites, and a merging of data with models.