PUSH-BROOM IMAGER FOR CLOUD AND AEROSOL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The Pushbroom Imager for Cloud and Aerosol Research and Development (PICARD) is a VNIR-SWIR airborne imaging spectrometer that primarily acquires imagery from the NASA ER-2 high altitude research aircraft. Operating over a wavelength range of 400-2500nm, the dual Offner spectrometers are mounted to a single four-mirror anastigmat telescope, designed to produce a distortion-free 50-degree field of view over cloud scenes. This wide field of view from high altitude provides a synoptic view of regional-scale atmospheric phenomena, and enables easier cross-comparisons with satellite imagery (e.g. MODIS, VIIRS, etc.) PICARD is designed to operate in conjunction with the Enhanced MODIS Airborne Simulator (eMAS) on the ER-2, with the two data sets being merged post-fight, for a combined spectral range of 0.400 - 14.133µm. Data acquired by PICARD will be used to simulate existing satellite imager products, validate radiances and geophysical retrieval algorithms (with a particular emphasis on cloud micro-physics and their role in global climate dynamics), and to prototype future imager requirements.
The principal scientific investigator for PICARD is Dr. Steven Platnick, EOS Senior Project Scientist.
