Introducing the MISR level 2 near real-time aerosol product

Abstract

Abstract. Atmospheric aerosols are an important element of Earth s climate system and\nhave significant impacts on the environment and on human health. Global\naerosol modeling has been increasingly used for operational forecasting and\nas support for decision making. For example, aerosol analyses and forecasts\nare routinely used to provide air quality information and alerts in both\ncivilian and military applications. The growing demand for operational\naerosol forecasting calls for additional observational data that can be\nassimilated into models to improve model accuracy and predictive skill.\nThese factors have motivated the development, testing, and release of a new\nnear real-time (NRT) level 2 (L2) aerosol product from the Multi-angle\nImaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument on NASA s Terra platform. The\nNRT product capitalizes on the unique attributes of the MISR aerosol\nretrieval approach and product contents, such as reliable aerosol optical\ndepth as well as aerosol microphysical information. Several modifications\nare described that allow for rapid product generation within a 3\u2009h\nwindow following acquisition of the satellite observations. Implications for\nthe product quality and consistency are discussed and compared to the current\noperational L2 MISR aerosol product. Several ways of implementing additional\nuse-specific retrieval screenings are also highlighted.\n