The Glory Mission Will Increase Our Understanding of the Earth's Energy Balance

photo, AERONET

World's Largest Aerosol Sensing Network Has Leafy Origins

June 25 - Scientists know that aerosols play an outsized role in Earth's climate. And much of that knowledge has come from the Aerosol Robotic Network, or AERONET, the collaborative, international sensor network.

By providing accurate measurements from the ground, AERONET has emerged as the best tool to validate the accuracy of new satellite instruments. Scientists have relied upon it to reconcile differences between aerosol measurements from the instruments on NASA's Terra satellite.

Glory will rely on AERONET to validate the Aerosol Polarimetery Sensor, an innovative instrument that will distinguish between different types of aerosols from space. Though developed nations are dense with AERONET stations, coverage in many developing areas remains sparse. That's a problem because aerosols don't recognize borders and they aren't limited to land masses.

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