Browsing: Aeolus

Aeolus is a pioneering Earth observation satellite launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) in August 2018. Named after the keeper of the winds in Greek mythology, the Aeolus satellite is equipped with the novel ALADIN instrument, an ultraviolet laser Doppler lidar, which measures winds across the globe. This technology provides data on wind profiles from the surface of the Earth up into the stratosphere, offering a vertical resolution that had been largely missing from previous meteorological data. Aeolus serves a critical role in improving weather forecasts and understanding global atmospheric dynamics. The data collected helps fill gaps in observations, particularly over oceans, in remote areas, and in the upper atmosphere, thus contributing to more accurate weather predictions and climate research.