The Meeting of the Americas : 2008 Joint Assembly

The 2008 Joint Assembly is being held 27-30 May 2008 at the Greater Fort Lauderdale-Broward County Convention Center, located at 1950 Eisenhower Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Program Committee is developing a Union-wide science program that will cover topics in all areas of geophysical sciences.

For more information visit the AGU web site.

Clouds have typically posed a problem for space observations because clouds block the satellite's ability to capture a clear, unobstructed view of Earth's surface. Scientists have found, however, that clouds aren't as opaque as they seemed. Using data from three instruments on the A-Train constellation of NASA and French Space Agency satellites, scientists have now discovered that they are, in fact, seeing deep into clouds with their sensors. These satellites are now taking first-of-a-kind measurements inside the clouds - taking an "X-ray" of clouds - shedding new light on how cloud processes can have a profound influence on Earth's climate.

At this briefing, scientists will discuss what they are doing with the new "X-Rays" of clouds. For example, scientists are combining data from A-train sensors Cloud-Sat and CALIPSO with data from Aqua instruments MODIS, CERES and AMSR-E to learn details about how clouds operate. The data are helping researchers understand the microphysical processes that control the formation and life-cycle of clouds.

Panelists will also discuss how they are using the "X-Rays" to understand the role of aerosols and clouds in the atmosphere. This is one of the biggest challenges for scientists trying to predict climate change. Aerosols reflect light back to space, cooling the Earth's surface, but interactions between clouds and aerosols can also change rainfall patterns. Scientists are using data from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) on Aura along with Aqua's MODIS and the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) to answer questions about the effects of pollution on rainfall and climate.

The five satellites (NASA's Aqua, Aura, Cloud-Sat and CALIPSO and the French Space Agency's PARASOL) of the A-Train, follow each other closely and can be thought of as an extended satellite, providing unprecedented information about clouds, aerosols, and atmospheric composition.