June 2026, Oxford, UK) – On-site: Aspasia (presenting also Konstantinos’ Poster), Online: Maria, Athina, George, Hossein
The EarthCARE 2026 Science and Validation Workshop took place in Oxford, UK, from 8 to 12 June 2026. The participation of the CARO team was well-represented, with the presentation of five posters: two presented on-site and three online.
The research showcased in these posters made important contributions to the validation and exploitation of EarthCARE satellite products. On-site, Aspasia presented her work on the validation of EarthCARE MSI and ATLID aerosol optical thickness products over the Eastern Mediterranean using AERONET and CARO observations. She also presented Konstantinos’ work on assessing MONARCH mineral dust forecasts over Cyprus using EarthCARE aerosol products and observations from the CARO National Facility.
The team’s online contribution included a poster by Maria and Athina on the validation of EarthCARE ATLID Level-2A aerosol optical property products, such as lidar ratio and particle depolarization ratio, as well as aerosol characterization using PollyXT lidar measurements from the Limassol ACTRIS National Facility. In addition, Hossein presented a poster on the assessment of aerosol–cloud interaction parameter retrievals using ground-based observations and EarthCARE measurements during two dust-cloud case studies over the CARO Limassol site. Finally, George presented his work on early insights into the vertical structure of clouds over Cyprus, combining EarthCARE CPR Level-2 products with observations from the CARO MIRA35 cloud radar.
The workshop provided an excellent opportunity to enhance the visibility of the CARO station and its research activities within the EarthCARE scientific community. It also facilitated valuable networking with researchers and data providers. Furthermore, the event offered insights into the latest scientific developments related to EarthCARE, ongoing validation efforts, and emerging research opportunities, while highlighting potential directions for future collaborations and participation in upcoming projects and campaigns.