Grant For Research NNX16AI08G

This is a $116,393.53 grant awarded by NASA's Shared Services Center to the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) to investigate the use of lidar observations to improve the representation of aerosol optical properties in a high-resolution global aerosol transport model. The goal is to refine the model's ability to simulate the vertical distribution and composition of aerosols, which is crucial for assessing their impact on the Earth's climate system. USRA will use NASA's extensive lidar dataset, including measurements from spaceborne, airborne, and ground-based platforms, to constrain the model's assumptions about aerosol optical properties. The second part of the investigation will explore how the improved model can be used to enhance aerosol typing capabilities for current and future lidar systems, which is important for converting lidar backscatter measurements into aerosol extinction profiles. This grant is not associated with a set-aside program and is part of NASA's broader efforts to better understand the role of aerosols in the Earth system.