ESA’s ADM-Aeolus Sat—LiDAR to look at Earth’s winds

 

ESA’s ADM-Aeolus in orbit interpreation—European Space Agency image

The European Space Agency launched its Atmospheric Dynamics Mission (ADM) Aeolus has the mission of observing the global winds from Earth’s surface to an altitude of 30 kilometers. Observing winds globally and in such detail will enable better understanding as well as weather prediction. The main instrument is ALADIN (Atmospheric Laser Dopp;er Instrument) which is LiDAR working in the UV range. LiDAR is similar to RADAR though it works in light frequencies instead of microwave frequencies.

ESA’s ADM-Aeolus interpretation with its UV LiDAR “made visible”—European Space Agency image

ESA’s ADM-Aeolus orbital scan information—European Space Agency image

ESA’s ADM-Aeolus data flow schematic—European Space Agency image

The Earth’s wind patterns in profile as well as plan views—European Space Agency image

El Niño’s weather phenomenon—European Space Agency image

One of the last Earthly views of ESA’s ADM-Aeolus satellite—European Space Agency image