Eleni Marinou

About

Eleni Marinou is a distinguished atmospheric scientist whose research centers on aerosol remote sensing, dust monitoring, and the spatiotemporal characterization of atmospheric particles using satellite and lidar observations. Her work has made significant contributions to our understanding of how aerosols — particularly mineral dust and smoke — behave across regional and global scales. Marinou's early landmark contribution came with her 2013 work optimizing CALIPSO Saharan dust retrievals (180 citations), which demonstrably improved the accuracy of space-based dust extinction measurements over northern Africa and Europe. She has since advanced the field through the development of major datasets, most notably the MIDAS (ModIs Dust AeroSol) global fine-resolution dust optical depth product (145 citations) and a multiyear climate data record separating fine- and coarse-mode dust components — tools now widely used by the broader research community. Her extensive analyses of aerosol optical depth over the Eastern Mediterranean and China, spanning two decades of multi-satellite observations, have illuminated long-term pollution trends and aerosol variability across two of the world's most aerosol-affected regions. More recently, Marinou has pushed methodological boundaries by exploring spaceborne lidar data assimilation to improve dust forecasting and investigating the optical properties of stratospheric wildfire smoke. With over 700 cumulative citations, her work bridges observational innovation and practical climate applications, making her a valuable voice in atmospheric science.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Optimizing CALIPSO Saharan dust retrievals

   180 citations · 2013
2. 2
   Two decades of satellite observations of AOD over mainland China using ATSR-2, AATSR and MODIS/Terra: data set evaluation and large-scale patterns

   146 citations · 2018
3. 3
   ModIs Dust AeroSol (MIDAS): a global fine-resolution dust optical depth data set

   145 citations · 2021
4. 4
   Spatiotemporal variability and contribution of different aerosol types to the aerosol optical depth over the Eastern Mediterranean

   102 citations · 2016
5. 5
   Spatial and seasonal variations of aerosols over China from two decades of multi-satellite observations – Part 1: ATSR (1995–2011) and MODIS C6.1 (2000–2017)

   79 citations · 2018
6. 6
   Is the near-spherical shape the “new black” for smoke?

   48 citations · 2020
7. 7
   Assimilating spaceborne lidar dust extinction can improve dust forecasts

   16 citations · 2022
8. 8
   A near-global multiyear climate data record of the fine-mode and coarse-mode components of atmospheric pure dust

   13 citations · 2024
9. 9
   Combined sun-photometer–lidar inversion: lessons learned during the EARLINET/ACTRIS COVID-19 campaign

   5 citations · 2023
10. 10
    Spatial and seasonal variations of aerosols over China from two decades of multi-satellite observations. Part I: ATSR (1995–2011) and MODIS C6.1 (2000–2017)

    4 citations · 2018

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links