During the meeting, Will McCarty emphasized the significance of the Aerosol-Cloud-precipitation System (AOS) in the Earth System Observatory. This system was recommended in the 2017 Decadal Survey and plays a vital role in providing critical observations that are necessary to understand the complex interplay of aerosol-cloud-precipitation processes that have a profound impact on weather, climate, and air quality.
Currently, two AOS projects are in development: AOS-Storm and AOS-Sky. The former is scheduled for launch in the late 2020s and will include Ku Doppler radar, microwave radiometers, and backscatter lidar in a 55° inclined orbit. On the other hand, AOS-Sky is set to launch in early 2030s and will feature cloud profiling Doppler radar, backscatter lidar, microwave radiometer, polarimeter, far-infrared (IR) radiometer as well as aerosol and moisture limb sounders in polar orbit.
It’s important to note that while this information accurately reflects the discussions during the meeting, there may be changes and updates to the project plan that will be reflected on their website at a later date.
