Release announcement of the V4.51 LL2 data product

The CALIPSO mission team announces the release of a new CALIOP Level 2 Product:

• CAL_LID_L2_01kmCLay-Standard-V4-51
• CAL_LID_L2_05kmALay-Standard-V4-51
• CAL_LID_L2_05kmCLay-Standard-V4-51
• CAL_LID_L2_05kmMLay-Standard-V4-51
• CAL_LID_L2_333mMLay-Standard-V4-51
• CAL_LID_L2_05kmAPro-Standard-V4-51
• CAL_LID_L2_05kmCPro-Standard-V4-51
• CAL_LID_L2_VFM-Standard-V4-51

The V4.51 CALIOP Level 2 products have a number of improvements to the characterization of smoke above clouds, single-shot (333m) cloud clearing techniques, and the stratospheric aerosol classification scheme. Two additional particulate optical depths are computed, derived over both ocean surfaces and above opaque water clouds.

The product is available beginning with data from June 13, 2006, and as of this announcement, through December 31, 2006. Remaining data will be available as it is produced and successfully ingested at the Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC) at NASA Langley Research Center.

Information about these new data products including data availability, user documentation and quality statements, and relevant links can be found at the following ASDC link:
https://asdc.larc.nasa.gov/project/CALIPSO

An in-depth data quality document and description can be found in the following CALIPSO links:

https://www-calipso.larc.nasa.gov/resources/calipso_users_guide/qs/cal_lid_l2_all_v4-51_qs.php

https://www-calipso.larc.nasa.gov/resources/calipso_users_guide/data_quality/index.php