World Meteorological Organization
Global Atmosphere
Watch Program

GALIONThe GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation NetworkThe WMO GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation Network (GALION):
status and coordination plans relevant to EarthCARE
Ellsworth J. Welton, NASA USA
Co-Authors on the GALION Data Center Working Group:
Lucia Mona, CNR Italy
Eduardo Landulfo, IPEN Brazil
Atsushi Shimizu, NIES Japan
Thierry Leblanc, JPL USA
Claudio Dema, CNR Italy
Fernando Chouza, JPL USA
Alex Mendes, IPEN Brazil
Juan Pallotta, CITEDEF Argentina

https://galion.world

Contact: Ellsworth.J.Welton@nasa.gov

World Meteorological Organization
Global AtmosphereWatch Program

GALIONThe GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation Network

GALION is a network of lidar networks organized through the WMO Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) program.
Judd Welton (NASA, USA) and Lucia Mona (CNR, Italy) are co-chairs
Guidance and direction provided by steering committee (network heads) and GAW Aerosol SAG

See GAW Report 178 (2008)
Original GALION Networks:
AD-NetEARLINET
CIS-LINET
regional
LALINETCORALNETCREST
MPLNET
globalNDACC Lidar
active GALION members, signed agreements with WMO as contributing networks

Objectives: provide long term, coordinated lidar network profilingof aerosol properties to support the following
1. climate research and assessment
2. air quality assessment and forecasting
3. Plume monitoring for special events
4. Satellite cal/val and synergistic research- Cover satellite lidar gaps
Motivations:Global coverage is only achievable by combining efforts ofindividual lidar networks. We have to work together.
Provide easier and more informative access to our data across all
networks, enable coordinated application support
Programmatic planning with other networks (WMO OSCAR, etc)

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GALIONThe GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation Network

Asian dust and aerosol lidar observation network – AD-Net➢ 96 profiles / day, vertical resolution = 30 m
➢ 532 nm attenuated backscatter coefficient +depolarization ratio (up to 18 km) & extinction
coefficient (with fixed lidar ratio S1 = 50sr, up to 9 km)➢ Available in figures and netCDF at:
https://www-lidar.nies.go.jp/AD-Net/➢ References: Shimizu et al., Opt. Eng. (2017)
doi:10.1117/1.OE.56.3.031219➢ Contact: shimizua@nies.go.jp#Realtime data sharing is notapplicable to lidars in China* Last updated March 2022

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GALIONThe GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation Network

European Aerosol Research LIdar NETwork – EARLINET/ACTRIS➢mainly based on Raman lidar systems, able to provide
vertical profiles of aerosol extinction and backscatter
coefficients without significant assumptions.
➢most of the stations at different wavelengths➢ currently most of the sites provides also linear
particle depolarization ratio➢ most of the sites have co-located photometers
EARLINET is since 2011 integrated in ACTRIS (Aerosol,Clouds, and Trace gases Research Infrastructure)https://www.earlinet.org/Pappalardo, G., et al., EARLINET: towards an advanced sustainable European
aerosol lidar network, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 7, 2389–2409,
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-2389-2014, 2014.

World Meteorological Organization
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GALIONThe GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation Network

Latin America LIdar NETwork – LALINET
https://lalinet.org
Measurements of 1064 nm, 532 nm
and 355 nm from elastic and multiwavelength lidar systems in order toretrieve backscatter, extinction, lidar
ratio profiles, plus backscatter andextinction Angstrom Exponent andColor ratio.

LALINET: The First Latin American–Born
Regional Atmospheric Observational Networkhttps://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-15-00228.1* Last updated March 2022

World Meteorological Organization
Global Atmosphere
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GALIONThe GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation Network

NASA Micro Pulse Lidar Network – MPLNET
Global Backscatter Lidar Network: 2000 - current• 82 sites total (25 operational, 57 closed): 28 countries• 12 more sites in planning• Continuous (day/night) operations, colocation with AERONET
Instrumentation:• Micro Pulse Lidar, miniMPL• Eye safe, green backscatter lidar. Polarized in early 2000s• Entire network has polarized MPL since ~2016
MPLNET History:• Three Version Releases: V1 and V2 (2000 – 2021)• Version 3 Released in Nov 2021
Updates Since ICAP 2022:• More sites installed, many more in final planning stages (ops by 2024)• Focus on new sites in western North America near fire sources• Ongoing V3 reprocessing of older data back to 2000
MPLminiMPL

https://mplnet.gsfc.nasa.gov

Operational
ClosedPlannedData Products:•
NRB: Lidar signals; volume depolarization ratios; diagnostics•
CLD: Cloud heights; thin cloud extinction and optical depths; cloud phase•
AER: Aerosol heights; extinction, backscatter, and depolarization ratio profiles; lidar ratio•
PBL: Mixed Layer Top and estimated AOD•
L1 and L1.5 products available in NRT, QA screen applied at L1.5 and L2•
L3 products in development (created from L2 data)World Meteorological Organization
Global Atmosphere
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GALIONThe GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation Network

Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change – NDACC
NDACC Sites
All times(active and inactive)
In operation
today (active)

Aerosols

Ozone

Temperature

Water Vapor

Wind201515151101010101

NDACC provides a measure of stratospheric AOD contribution to total column

Courtesy of Thierry Leblanc,
Jet propulsion Laboratory,
California Intitue of Technology

Long-term monitoring of atmospheric composition
http://www.ndacc.org* Last updated March 2022

World Meteorological Organization
Global AtmosphereWatch Program

GALIONThe GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation NetworkGALION: Operations and Working Groups
GALION operations: from 2008 original report
Due to the variety of lidar instruments and processing
systems throughout the contributing networks, it wasdecided to target a minimum of 2 observations perweek.
• Monday and Thursday around sunset• Some networks continuous 24/7, number growing
Products provided from a given site are dependent
upon the capability of the onsite lidar and network.
This system accommodates a tiered approach todata quality based on lidar capability and externalobservations.
Working groups:• Methodology• Technologies• Quality Assurance• Applications• Data Center
Data Center Working Group formed in Dec 2021
Welton Lead. Representatives from each network

MPLNET: GSFC Nov 8, 2023: Klyuchevskoy Volcanic Plume

Theoretical Forecast

Default GALION Obs Time

Periodic or Continuous
data are important forsurface obs:
• Inherently limited
spatial information• We can provide better
temporal vs satellite• More helpful forforecast validation

Methods, Technology, Data Quality• GALION has established standards and each network has traceable history ofpeer reviewed calibration and processing methods.
Aerosol Observation Requirements and Data Variables

BL: Backscatter lidar
DL: Depolarization
HSRL: High Spectral Resolution Lidar

SP: Sunphotometer
RL: Raman lidar
M: Multi-wavelengthWorld Meteorological Organization
Global Atmosphere
Watch Program

GALIONThe GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation Network

GALION Data Center Working Group: Metadata & Vocabularies
Standardize and Codify Variables, Instruments, etc

Lidar Variables:
Relative_Attenuated_Backscatter
Attenuated_Backscatter
Volume_Depolarization_Ratio
Scattering Ratio

Cloud Variables:
Cloud_Base_Height
Cloud_Top_Height
Cloud_Backscatter
Cloud_Extinction
Cloud_Lidar_Ratio
Cloud_Optical_Depth
Cloud_Effective_Radius_Estimate
Cloud_Depolarization_Ratio
Cloud_Phase

Mixed Layer Variables:
Mixed_Layer_Height
Mixed_Layer_Aerosol_Optical_Depth_Estimate
Mixed_Layer_Aerosol_Optical_Depth

Aerosol Variables:
Aerosol_Layer_Height
Aerosol_BackscatterAerosol_Extinction_Estimate
Aerosol_Extinction
Aerosol_Lidar_Ratio_Estimate
Aerosol_Lidar_Ratio
Aerosol_Optical_Depth_Estimate
Aerosol_Optical_Depth
Aerosol_Angstrom_Exponent_Estimated
Aerosol_Angstrom_Exponent
Aerosol_Effective_Radius_Estimate
Aerosol_Single_Scatter_Albedo_Estimate
Aerosol_Volume_Concentration_Estimate
Aerosol_Surface_Concentration_Estimate
Aerosol_Refractive_Index_Estimate
Aerosol_Effective_Radius
Aerosol_Single_Scatter_Albedo
Aerosol_Volume_Concentration
Aerosol_Surface_Concentration
Aerosol_Refractive_Index
Aerosol_Depolarization_Ratio
Aerosol_Type

Instrumentation:

Synergy with WMO OSCAR and WIGOS Metadata:
Welton is on the WMO Expert Team for Atmospheric Data Management
Mona is on the GAW Aerosol SAG

World Meteorological Organization
Global Atmosphere
Watch Program

GALIONThe GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation Network

GALION Data Center Working Group: Metadata & Vocabularies
Standard Variables Mapped to Instrumentation and other parameters, including WIGOS OSCAR

No map to WIGOS/OSCAR,
Some variables are in process of begin added,
Some may not ever be added to WIGOS.

Specifies instrument requirements for variables,
Units, Atmospheric Layers (PBL – Stratosphere),and mapping to WIGOS/OSCAR

World Meteorological Organization
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GALIONThe GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation Network

GALION Data Center Working Group:
New Data Center and Website

Other Network’s metadata from OSCAR (not up-to-date)Thus searches like this yield inaccurate informationSolutions: resolve OSCAR issues (hard), pull direct from Other network APIs (easier)https://galion.worldNASA AWS Contract to Support GALION Data Center
Django and Python development
Capabilities
GALION information and search and discovery
Automated handshakes with WMO OSCAR database
Metadata APIs
• Upload from GALION networks (Push)• Developing upload Pull capability (easier maintenance)
Tools in development (functional but not public*)• Metadata Downloads• Trajectory analysis
Future Tools• API Data Downloads (current and common formats)• Quicklook Imagery• Volcanic Alerts and Monitoring• PyroCb/Smoke Alerts and Monitoring• AQ Support* Some networks do not have full metadata submissions yet. We are using OSCAR metadata inplace of, which lacks some information and is currently out of date. Tools in development andfuture will not be implemented until metadata archive is complete.

All of the search engine features shown
here are also accessible via API

World Meteorological Organization
Global Atmosphere
Watch Program

GALIONThe GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation NetworkGALION Data Center Working Group:
New Data Center and Website
https://galion.worldNASA AWS Contract to Support GALION Data Center
Django and Python development
Capabilities
GALION information and search and discovery
Automated handshakes with WMO OSCAR database
Metadata APIs
• Upload from GALION networks (Push)• Developing upload Pull capability (easier maintenance)
Tools in development (functional but not public*)• Metadata DownloadsCase Study: Alberta Fires May 2023
Back Trajectory May 13• Trajectory analysis
Observed Smoke Heights
Future Tools
El_Arenosillo, Spain MPLNET site
• API Data Downloads (current and common formats)• Quicklook Imagery(trajectory analysis from GSFC 3 days
• Volcanic Alerts and Monitoring
earlier show origin over Alberta, CA)• PyroCb/Smoke Alerts and Monitoring• AQ Support* Some networks do not have full metadata submissions yet. We are using OSCAR metadata inplace of, which lacks some information and is currently out of date. Tools in development andfuture will not be implemented until metadata archive is complete.

All of the search engine features shown
here are also accessible via API

World Meteorological Organization
Global Atmosphere
Watch ProgramGALIONThe GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation NetworkGALION Data Center Working Group:
New Data Center and Website

GALION JSON Metadata: file snippets
AD-Nethttps://galion.world
Links to network data:• Files (FTP/SFTP or API)• Quicklooks (static images or API)NASA AWS Contract to Support GALION Data Center
Django and Python development
Capabilities
GALION information and search and discovery
Automated handshakes with WMO OSCAR database
Metadata APIs
• Upload from GALION networks (Push)• Developing upload Pull capability (easier maintenance)
Tools in development (functional but not public*)• Metadata Downloads• Trajectory analysis
Future Tools• API Data Downloads (current and common formats)• Quicklook Imagery• Volcanic Alerts and Monitoring• PyroCb/Smoke Alerts and Monitoring• AQ Support* Some networks do not have full metadata submissions yet. We are using OSCAR metadata inplace of, which lacks some information and is currently out of date. Tools in development andfuture will not be implemented until metadata archive is complete.

EARLINETMPLNET

User Data Downloads:
Search tool provides JSON metadata.
User can easily obtain links to requested
data, and automate retrieval with our API

GALION Data Ordering From our Website
Issues to consider:• Data Policy & DOI/License• Common file formats• Open Access or Authentication• AD-Net and MPLNET open
• EARLINET just opened
Quicklook Imagery• common vs individual images

World Meteorological Organization
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GALIONThe GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation Network

GALION Data Center Working Group:

Conceptual graphic of quicklook imagery:May 2023 smoke trajectory analysis example

New Data Center and Website
https://galion.worldNASA AWS Contract to Support GALION Data Center
Django and Python development
Capabilities
GALION information and search and discovery
Automated handshakes with WMO OSCAR database
Metadata APIs
• Upload from GALION networks (Push)• Developing upload Pull capability (easier maintenance)
Tools in development (functional but not public*)• Metadata Downloads• Trajectory analysis
Future Tools• Quicklook Imagery• API Data Downloads (current and common formats)• Volcanic Alerts and Monitoring• PyroCb/Smoke Alerts and Monitoring• AQ Support
MPLNET: SEDE_BOKER (Israel) June 2023

* Some networks do not have full metadata submissions yet. We are using OSCAR metadata inplace of, which lacks some information and is currently out of date. Tools in development andfuture will not be implemented until metadata archive is complete.

Challenge going forward: PyroCb
Dealing with annual smoke
distribution in FT – UTLS across NH

MPLNET: EPA-NCU (Taiwan) July 2023

World Meteorological Organization
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GALIONThe GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation NetworkConclusion: Infrastructure and New Data Center
Information and search and discovery. Centralized coordination with WMO OSCAR•Better programmatic planning of observations, within GALION and beyond (other networks)•

Easier to find data, automate with APIs•

Continue working on common data browse, data format & download capabilities

Develop applications•

Back trajectory analysis tool (done, testing)•Future: Coordinated support for WMO SDS-WAS, Volcanic and fire/smoke alerts and monitoring••

GALION networks are part of EarthCARE Validation Team••

Some networks already contributing to such work, experience & blue prints for future action

We are working with EVDC to harmonize validation files with GALION vocabularies and definitions

FAIR Data Support and Integration•Data policies and licenses must be handled appropriately if we merge data across networks•Consider integration with WMO Information System (WIS) 2.0 (in dev/testing now)•Current WIS/GTS system (closed to NMHS) will end 2030

•WIS 2.0 offers ability to use standardized discovery and delivery for atmos comp data (same as met data – temperature and pressure)https://galion.world

Contact: Ellsworth.J.Welton@nasa.gov

World Meteorological Organization
Global Atmosphere
Watch Program

GALIONThe GAW Aerosol Lidar Observation NetworkConclusion: GALION Activities
Intercomparisons and Coordination Between GALION members•

MPLNET – EARLINET•Intercomparisons in 2024 at collocated sites at Barcelona and Payerne•

CARGO-ACT: new HORIZON project starts March 2024 (EU ACTRIS and USA university and gov members)••

Develop roadmap for cooperation between EU and USA research infrastructures, including lidar & ceilometer (Mona, Welton)

EARLINET – LALINET: Heterogeneous network processing•EARLINET Single Calculus Chain (SCC) well established. LALINET new Lidar Processing Pipeline (LPP) in development•Argentina Weather Service using EARLINET/SCC to process and distribute data•

Harmonization campaign 2025: comparison of new LPP to SCC processing of LALINET dataCeilometer Networks: inclusion in GALION (or at least collaboration)•E-PROFILE: talks underway•

US ASOS (met observation sites): ceilometer profile data (100s of sites) may soon be available. Initial discussions starting.

•

US Unified Ceilometer Network (UCN): ceilometers at EPA-PAMS sites (~50). UCN in transition at the moment, talks stalled.

Other Activities•

MPLNET – GRASP: Comparison of MPLNET aerosol retrievals to those from GRASP using the same lidar signal input (MPLNET L1). Paper in prep.

•New GALION Implementation plan? Revive other working groups?
https://galion.world

Contact: Ellsworth.J.Welton@nasa.gov