Measurements and Status at the CERES Ocean Validation Experiment (COVE)

The Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) is a suite of instruments flying on several earth-observing satellites that provides data products of radiant energy from the top of the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface. The CERES Ocean Validation Experiment (COVE) was established in 1999 as an ocean surface validation site for CERES and other satellite instruments. COVE is located at Chesapeake Light Station, approximately 25 kilometers east of Virginia (coordinates: 36.90N, 75.71W).

COVE measurements include downwelling and upwelling radiant flux at visible and infrared wavelengths, basic meteorological parameters, aerosol optical depth, black carbon, total column water vapor, cloud heights, and more. COVE is part of several networks including the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN), Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET), Micro-Pulse Lidar Network (MPLNET) and Global Positioning System Meteorology (GPS-MET).

A table will be displayed that outlines the current instrumentation and measurements being collected at COVE. Select data results will be presented, including CERES satellite derived data versus COVE surface observed measurements. Also, climatologies such as black carbon from an Aethalometer will be disclosed.

In October 2012, the Department of Energy (D.O.E.) purchased Chesapeake Light with the goal of producing a base station for vertically defined wind profiles. While this project is still in the planning phase, the D.O.E. has allowed our research to continue in its current state.