PhD Proposal: Nirandi Jayasinghe
Location
Physics : 401
PhD Proposal: Nirandi Jayasinghe – Online Event
Date & Time
December 18, 2023, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Description
ADVISOR: Dr. J. Vanderlei Martins
TITLE: Aerosol Retrievals Using GRASP from Multiangular Polarimeters in Twilight Zones
ABSTRACT: This PhD project focuses on advancing our understanding of aerosol interactions within Earth's system, with a particular emphasis on aerosol-cloud interactions and their impact on radiative flux in cloudy regions. Leveraging data from the Hyper Angular Rainbow Polarimeter (HARP) CubeSat, deployed by the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and its successor, HARP-2, aboard NASA's Plankton Aerosol Cloud Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite, the study delves into aerosol retrievals using the Generalized Retrieval of Aerosols and Surface Properties (GRASP) algorithm. Notably, the project explores variations in aerosol optical depth (AOD) in twilight regions, considering enhancement effects and multiangular parallax cloud contamination. A key challenge addressed is the accurate cloud masking in multiangle instruments like HARP, crucial for distinguishing between cloudy and clear pixels. The project aims to simplify the complex domain of aerosol property enhancements by leveraging new-generation instruments and technologies, contributing to a comprehensive analysis of the twilight zone using HARP instruments and LES models. The overarching goal is to refine aerosol retrieval techniques and algorithms, capitalizing on advancements in instrumentation and remote sensing, ultimately enhancing accuracy, reducing data wastage, and improving efficiency for upcoming satellite missions PACE and AOS.
TITLE: Aerosol Retrievals Using GRASP from Multiangular Polarimeters in Twilight Zones
ABSTRACT: This PhD project focuses on advancing our understanding of aerosol interactions within Earth's system, with a particular emphasis on aerosol-cloud interactions and their impact on radiative flux in cloudy regions. Leveraging data from the Hyper Angular Rainbow Polarimeter (HARP) CubeSat, deployed by the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and its successor, HARP-2, aboard NASA's Plankton Aerosol Cloud Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite, the study delves into aerosol retrievals using the Generalized Retrieval of Aerosols and Surface Properties (GRASP) algorithm. Notably, the project explores variations in aerosol optical depth (AOD) in twilight regions, considering enhancement effects and multiangular parallax cloud contamination. A key challenge addressed is the accurate cloud masking in multiangle instruments like HARP, crucial for distinguishing between cloudy and clear pixels. The project aims to simplify the complex domain of aerosol property enhancements by leveraging new-generation instruments and technologies, contributing to a comprehensive analysis of the twilight zone using HARP instruments and LES models. The overarching goal is to refine aerosol retrieval techniques and algorithms, capitalizing on advancements in instrumentation and remote sensing, ultimately enhancing accuracy, reducing data wastage, and improving efficiency for upcoming satellite missions PACE and AOS.
