The VAMOS project

VAMOS

Project

VAMOS focuses on the scientific exploitation of one of most exciting new measurement capabilities of the EarthCARE satellite mission, the Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) Doppler velocity measurements. The availability of Doppler measurements from space will offer a unique opportunity for the collection of a global dataset of vertical motions in clouds and precipitation. In addition, the CPR Doppler velocity measurements can provide the first detailed climatology of hydrometeors sedimentation velocities and help to constraint the particles’ characteristic size in both ice, liquid and mixed-phase cloud conditions. While the Doppler capability of EarthCARE’s CPR represents a major innovation, considerable scientific development is still required to fully harness its potential for advancing our understanding of cloud dynamics and hydrometeor terminal fall speeds.

Scientific Investigations of the Vertical Air MOtion and hydrometeors Sedimentation rates from the EarthCARE

Objectives

The VAMOS consortium will focus on the following set of objectives: 

  1. Generate new advanced EarthCARE CPR Doppler products that target the needs of the scientific community in convection and precipitation, 
  2. Conduct detail scientific investigations of the global CPR Doppler dataset using the aforementioned advanced products
  3. Develop a fast CPR forward simulator suitable km-scale models and demonstrate its applicability to a number of high resolution regional simulations and 
  4. Promote and foster collaborations and awareness regarding the use of the CPR Doppler velocity measurements.

The VAMOS team

The consortium consists of:

  • McGill University (Canada) — Prime Contractor
  • Politecnico di Torino (Italy) — Sub-contractor

Prof. Pavlos Kollias serves as Project Manager, and Prof. Alessandro Battaglia is the Principal Investigator for Politecnico di Torino (PoliTO).

Team members supported by the VAMOS project include:
Bernat Puigdomènech Treserras and Jiseob Kim (McGill), and Susmitha Susikumar, Aida Galfione, and Filippo Emilio Scarci (PoliTO).

The VAMOS web site

The VAMOS website will serve as the starting point for any scientist interested in using data products, tools and scientific analysis methodologies developed by the VAMOS consortium. Many of the links would be to existing ESA resources, but with additional more specific scientific information targeted to the research conducted in the context of the VAMOS contract.

The EarthCARE+ Innovation activity

The VAMOS project is supported by the European Space Agency “Atmosphere Science Cluster – Research Opportunities #6 – EarthCARE+ Innovation.” 

The objectives of the EarthCARE+ Innovation activity include:

  • To develop a solid scientific understanding regarding the contribution of EarthCARE data in the context of different scientific domains, beyond the EarthCARE primary mission objectives.
  • To develop and validate novel retrieval methods and innovative prototype products beyond the mission primary products, that may enlarge the EarthCARE product portfolio.
  • Maximize the impact of EarthCARE to address major knowledge gaps in Earth system science and process understanding, ensuring EarthCARE delivers breakthroughs in Earth system and climate research.
  • Contribute to develop a scientific roadmap and formulate a scientific plan for potential full development of proposed novel scientific areas, applications or products.