Comparative Analysis of Aeolus Satellite Mission L2A, L2B and L2C Products with Ground-Based Lidars: Multi-Year Cal/Val Activities in Granada, Spain

A multi-year Cal/Val comparison of the Aeolus satellite mission's L2A, L2B, and L2C products with ground-based aerosol and Doppler lidars was carried out at the Granada-ACTRIS site in Spain. The aim of this study is to assess the accuracy and quality of Aeolus aerosol and wind products from July 2019 to July 2022, enabling a robust evaluation of Aeolus performance under multiple atmospheric conditions. Results indicate a good but limited agreement between Aeolus products, ground-based lidars and radiosondes, endorsing the satellite's capability to provide valuable aerosol and wind products. Substantial discrepancies were observed primarily at lower altitudes (below 1 km agl) due to larger spatial inhomogeneities and lower signal-to-noise ratio.