ESA-JAXA Pre-Launch EarthCARE
Science and Validation Workshop
13 – 17 November 2023 | ESA-ESRIN, Frascati (Rome), Italy

The CERTAINTY project and its interaction with theEarthCARE mission.

CERTAINTY:
Cloud-aERosol inTeractions& their impActs IN The earth sYstem
Jennie Thomas, CNRS/IGE (coordinator)
Harri Kokkola, FMI (scientific coordinator)

Consortium
18 partners from 10 countries

Overarching objective
The overarching objective of CERTAINTY is todeliver the knowledge and models that provide
improved confidence and representation of the roleof cloud–aerosol-radiation interactions in climateand weather.

© Ruvim - PEXELSThis translates to better understanding and predictions ofextreme
eventsandfacilitatesplanning
climatemitigation/adaptation strategies for the good of European
citizens and global society.

Total EU budget requested/granted: 8 million EUR (UK partners are now being moved out of this total)
Project duration: 1 January 2024 - 1 January 2028

Target ACI uncertainties & processes

Specific Objectives (SOs)● SO#1-#6: address the six target uncertainties● SO#7: Early adoption of EarthCARE and Metop-SG datainto ACI science● SO#8: Train the next generation of multidisciplinary,
diverse ACI scientists● SO#9: Use EU infrastructures to deliver FAIR and openscience

Work Package StructureLeadership team
WP1: Fundamental knowledge of cloud-aerosol processes: from the cloud toregional scale
Leads: Hugh Coe (Univ Manchester), Silke Gross (DLR)
Link to EarthCARE: Constraining the radiative effects of ACI using
observational synergies, achieve radiative closure with irradiance observations
from ground (e.g. ACTRIS, WMO-GAW, BSRN), air (e.g. HALO) or satellite (e.g.
EarthCARE).
WP2: Fundamental knowledge of cloud-aerosol processes: from the regional toglobal scale
Leads: Angela Benedetti (ECMWF), Ed Gryspeerdt (Imperial CollegeLondon)
Link to EarthCARE:• Use of ACTRIS and other ground based Observations to validate andcalibrate newly online EarthCARE observations.
• CERTAINTY will assimilate EarthCARE lidar particle backscatter to constrain
the vertical distribution of aerosol and clouds simultaneously.

Leadership team
WP3: Improved parameterizations of cloud-aerosol interactions
Leads: Carlos Perez (BSC), Zamin Kanji (ETH Zürich)- Link to EarthCARE: use of observations in evaluating model
parameterizations
WP4: Extremes and natural climate feedbacks
Leads: Annele Virtanen (UEF), Ilona Riipinen (Stockholm Univ)- Link to EarthCARE: use of observations together with models to estimate
climate feedbacks
WP5: Cloud-aerosol forcings and climate responses
Leads: Twan van Noije (KNMI), Moa Sporre (Lund Univ)- Link to EarthCARE: use of observations to evaluate improved ESMs

Leadership team
WP6: Open science and data management
Leads: Anca Hienola (FMI), Jennie Thomas (CNRS/IGE)- Link to EarthCARE: Establishing pathways for effective workflow,storage, distribution, and availability of data
WP7: Dissemination, Exploitation, Education, and Communications
Leads: Jennie Thomas (CNRS/IGE), Harri Kokkola (FMI)
Link to EarthCARE: stakeholder interactions that feedback through thecontinuous process via implementation of our international advisory committee(IAC). This task also coordinates CERTAINTY activities with the Validation
Programmes of EarthCARE/MetOp-SG.

Consortium expertiseConsortium Links with EarthCARE
Assimilation of EarthCARE cloud radar and lidar observations; EarthCARE JMAG
Lidar data assimilation (new observation operators; backscatter and extinction) & cloud doppler radar data forassimilation within ECMWF’s IFS to constrain the vertical distribution of aerosol and clouds simultaneously.

Scientific coordinator for the EarthCARE (lidar and aerosol related) Cal/Val & key partner inground based observations (ACTRIS)
Use of ASKOS/JATAC campaign and the ACROSS Mediterranean experiment for EarthCARE in CERTAINTY.
Achieve ACI radiative closure with irradiance observations from ground, air or satellite using observational
synergies. Reducing uncertainties in aerosol optical properties to improve aerosol assimilation, focusing on
particle depolarization.

Science and Cal/Val Campaigns; EarthCARE JMAG
Synthesizing aircraft observations to quantify ACI processes & Preparing for the use of EarthCARE
EarthCARE validation using ground-based observations and products from airborne EarthCARE-like
instrumentation.
Use of campaign data: Earth Care Validation; Tropical Oceans and Organized Convection (EC-TOOC; 2024)
CARDINAL L2 project lead & ATLID L2a and L1b processor development; EarthCARE JMAG
EarthCARE product knowledge for EarthCARE Cal/Val and lidar assimilation
Cloud-aerosol forcings and climate responses

Key links to EarthCARE
Provide:● L1b & L2 Data
● Instrument and product knowledge●●●Long Term Outcome:● new products and collections● Improved predictions of precipitationassessed using satellite observations(EarthCARE) and reanalysis/analysis.
● EarthCARE and Metop-SG data andmethods will be an integral part of ACI
studies and model evaluation● Improved quantification and actions
that consider the role of ACI inweather/climate new higher-level(combined) products●●●●

Independent evaluation and validation of theEarthCARE products.
3 new products for EarthCARE (dust, CCN, IN
concentration profiles)
5 satellite products validated via Cal/Val activities(EarthCARE and MetOp-SG missions)
2 validation studies on EarthCARE
1 model on aerosol radiative properties
1 new product for data assimilation (particle
depolarization for EarthCARE)
3 new observation operators (backscatter,extinction and depolarization) for data assimilation

Publish datasets with DOI

CERTAINTY International
Advisory Committee

Discussion Points & Questions●EarthCARE Cal-Val specialists (e.g. NOA, DLR, UHEL), assimilation (ECMWF) and EarthCARE L2 products (KNMI)
are involved on CERTAINTY & EarthCARE. Are any additional steps needed for our interactions?

●How should we set up communications between CERTAINTY and EarthCARE team beyond the commissioningphase?

●Topics for future focused discussions: EarthCARE Cal/Val activities in CERTAINTY & coordination with groundbased observations (ACTRIS (EARLINET/CLOUDNET), PollyNet , ARM)

●CERTAINTY and CleanCloud (upcoming presentation) projects collaborate via the ESA-AIRSENSE project toleverage advancements achieved by both initiatives.

●Upcoming events○○●EarthCARE meetings/conferences: EGU-2024, ILRC-2024 & Launch May 2024!
CERTAINTY kick off (2024)

The KNMI position, focusing 40% on EarthCARE cal/val and 60% on aerosol model improvements, will beadvertised in December. Inform us if you know candidates!!

Extra slides

Coordination teamJennie Thomas, CNRS Researcher+ Adeline Suppo, Communications Officer

Harri Kokkola, FMI Research Professor

EU Europe call, duration, and budget
Selected highlights from the Call: Improved knowledge in cloud-aerosol interaction
Project results are expected to contribute to following outcomes:●
Enhanced large community effort in Europe around ACI●
Improved Earth systems models●
Reduced uncertainties in climate models through a better representation of cloud formation, aerosol-cloudinteraction, and their combined radiative properties.
The projects should address this challenge through:●Enhancing the systematic and coordinated collection and use of ground-based or airborne observing systems
from relevant existing networks (e.g. Earlinet, Aeronet, ACTRIS). These datasets will also be critical to enhancesatellite retrievals and validation of cloud and aerosols parameters.
●Establishing in the course of the projects wide-open access to the observation data produced within relevantmeasurement network databases (e.g. ACTRIS).

Total EU budget requested/granted: 8 million EUR (UK partners are now being moved out of this total)
Project duration: 1 January 2024 - 1 January 2028

Methods for reaching audience

EventsLogo
CERTAINT
Y results&messages

Posters

Concept
figures

TemplatesResults
Press
releasesScientificpublications
Code/dataProject
leaflets

Publicdeliverables

Policybriefings
Sciencemeetings &conferences

WebsiteFocusedworkshops

News

Final EU
event

Webinars

ECR school

Socialmedia

VideosJoint activities with partner projects &programs

Graphical
Identity

Promotional
Materials

OnlinePresence

Targetaudiences
Stakeholders

CERTAINTY Impact

Stages of dissemination

Early in theproject:
Establish IAC(stakeholderengagement);
establish
communications
channels; formalize
partnerships withongoing initiatives

During the project:
Get feedback fromstakeholders,
proactively
communicate results incommunicationchannels; maximize
impact throughcommunication andEnd of project:engagement activities; Establish project legacy throughmake results public and open access publications, data,
reproduciblemodel code, and deliverables;

After the project:
Communicate researchbeyond the lifetime ofthe project; ensure
dissemination andcommunication of final
transfer next steps to new
outcomes; further theinitiatives and projects; transfer project legacy throughknowledge to climate andongoing work in other
weather services; communicate projects; ensure uptake
Grant duration (4 years)
impact&recommendations to EU and Lastingof resultsby the wider
international climate policy foralegacy
community