Objective
The objective of the SCIAMACHY validation is to determine the accuracy
of both operational and scientific data products for all relevant
atmospheric conditions. This will be achieved by comparison of the
SCIAMACHY data products with temporally and spatially coincident
measurements performed by independent instrumentation from various
platforms.
Coordination and Set-Up
Given the broad range of data products that can be derived from
SCIAMACHY measurements, the validation of these products is a
challenge requiring coordinated action both on an international and on
a national basis.
The Atmospheric Chemistry Validation Team
(ACVT) chaired by ESA is responsible for the overall validation
planning, data acquisition, data processing, data analysis, and
reporting for the atmospheric chemistry instruments SCIAMACHY, MIPAS, and GOMOS on
Envisat-1.
The German contributions to the SCIAMACHY validation are coordinated
by the Institute of
Environmental Physics, Heidelberg, with support from the
Institute of Environmental Physics, Bremen.
As proposed by the SCIAMACHY
Validation and Interpretation Group (SCIAVALIG), a subgroup of
the SCIAMACHY Science Advisory Group (SSAG), the validation will
comprise two parts:
- The core validation aims at providing a minimal but
essential validation of SCIAMACHY products. It will be performed
primarily by relevant groups from those countries which have funded
SCIAMACHY (Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium).
- The so-called AO validation based on selected proposals
submitted to ESA following the Announcement of Opportunity for
SCIAMACHY validation will complement the core validation.
The validation of SCIAMACHY will be divided in three phases:
- During the commissioning phase (from launch until 6 months
after launch) a preliminary validation of level-1 and level-2 data
will be performed.
- The aim of the main validation phase (from L+6 to L+18) is
to provide the error assessment for the first official data release by
means of a rigorous validation of all level-1 and level-2 products.
- During the long-term validation phase (starting at L+18 and
lasting throughout the operational life of SCIAMACHY) the essential
elements of the main validation will be regularly repeated to
establish a high-quality long-term data record.
More detailed information can be found in the
SCIAMACHY Validation Requirements Document prepared by
SCIAVALIG.
German Contribution to SCIAMACHY Validation
The German validation activities will cover almost all level-1 and
level-2 data products during all validation phases of the operational
life of SCIAMACHY. Most projects will be financed by the German
Education and Science Ministry (BMBF) and by the German Aerospace Agency
(DLR). Correlative measurements will be performed from various
platforms for a wide range of locations and atmospheric
conditions. Support to campaign planning and interpretation of
measurements will be provided in the form of meteorological analyses
and chemistry transport models. Please note that the validation
planning is still at an early stage. Therefore the lists of
instruments and measurement sites given below are preliminary and may
be updated in the future.
More information about the German contribution to SCIAMACHY validation
can be found in
- Hoogen, R., J. P. Burrows, S. Noël, U. Platt, T. Wagner:
SCIAMACHY mission objectives and validation concept: The German
contribution, Proc. 14th ESA Symp. on European Rocket and Balloon
Programs and Related Research (PS-file, zipped, 420k).