Barbara J. Gaitley

Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) global aerosol optical depth validation based on 2 years of coincident Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) observations

[1] Performance of the Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) early postlaunch aerosol optical thickness (AOT) retrieval algorithm is assessed quantitatively over land and ocean by comparison with a 2-year measurement record of globally distributed AERONET Sun photometers. There are sufficient coincident observations to stratify the data set by season and expected aerosol type. In addition to reporting uncertainty envelopes, we identify trends and outliers, and investigate their likely causes, with the aim of refining algorithm performance. Overall, about 2/3 of the MISR-retrieved AOT values fall within [0.05 or 20% x AOT] of Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET). More than a third are within [0.03 or 10% x AOT]. Correlation coefficients are highest for maritime stations (∼0.9), and lowest for dusty sites (more than ∼0.7). Retrieved spectral slopes closely match Sun photometer values for Biomass burning and continental aerosol types. Detailed comparisons suggest that adding to the algorithm climatology more absorbing spherical particles, more realistic dust analogs, and a richer selection of multimodal aerosol mixtures would reduce the remaining discrepancies for MISR retrievals over land; in addition, refining instrument low-light-level calibration could reduce or eliminate a small but systematic offset in maritime AOT values. On the basis of cases for which current particle models are representative, a second-generation MISR aerosol retrieval algorithm incorporating these improvements could provide AOT accuracy unprecedented for a spaceborne technique.

MISR aerosol optical depth retrievals over southern Africa during the SAFARI‐2000 Dry Season Campaign

This paper presents, for the first time, retrievals of aerosol optical depths from Multi-angle Imaging Spectro-Radiometer (MISR) observations over land. Application of the MISR operational algorithm to data taken over southern Africa during the SAFARI-2000 dry season campaign yields results that compare favorably with coincident surface-based measurements taken by the AERONET radiometer network.

An analysis of global aerosol type as retrieved by MISR

In addition to aerosol optical depth (AOD), aerosol type is required globally for climate forcing calculations, constraining aerosol transport models and other applications. However, validating satellite aerosol-type retrievals is more challenging than testing AOD results, because aerosol type is a more complex quantity, and ground truth data are far less numerous and generally not as robust. We evaluate the Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) Version 22 aerosol-type retrievals by assessing product self-consistency on a regional basis and by making comparisons with general expectation and with the Aerosol Robotic Network aerosol-type climatology, as available. The results confirm and add detail to the observation that aerosol-type discrimination improves dramatically where midvisible AOD exceeds about 0.15 or 0.2. When the aerosol-type information content of the observations is relatively low, increased scattering-angle range improves particle-type sensitivity. The MISR standard, operational product discriminates among small, medium, and large particles and exhibits qualitative sensitivity to single-scattering albedo (SSA) under good aerosol-type retrieval conditions, providing a categorical aerosol-type classification. MISR Angstrom exponent deviates systematically from ground truth where particle types missing from the algorithm climatology are present, or where cloud contamination is likely to occur, and SSA tends to be overestimated where absorbing particles are found. We determined that the number of mixtures passing the algorithm acceptance criteria (#SuccMix) represents aerosol-type retrieval quality effectively, providing a useful aerosol-type quality flag.

Vicarious calibration experiment in support of the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer

On June 11, 2000, the first vicarious calibration experiment in support of the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) was conducted. The purpose of this experiment was to acquire in situ measurements of surface and atmospheric conditions over a bright, uniform area. These data were then used to compute top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiances, which were correlated with the camera digital number output, to determine the in-flight radiometric response of the on-orbit sensor. The Lunar Lake Playa, Nevada, was the primary target instrumented by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for this experiment. The airborne MISR simulator (AirMISR) on board a NASA ER-2 acquired simultaneous observations over Lunar Lake. The in situ estimations of top-of-atmosphere radiances and AirMISR measurements at a 20-km altitude were in good agreement with each other and differed by 9% from MISR measurements. The difference has been corrected by adjusting the gain coefficients used in MISR standard product generation. Data acquired simultaneously by other sensors, such as Landsat, the Terra Moderate-Resolution Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MODIS), and the Airborne Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS), were used to validate this correction. Because of this experiment, MISR radiances are 9% higher than the values based on the on-board calibration. Semiannual field campaigns are planned for the future in order to detect any systematic trends in sensor calibration.

MISR Calibration and Implications for Low-Light-Level Aerosol Retrieval over Dark Water

Abstract Studying aerosols over ocean is one goal of the Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) and other spaceborne imaging systems. But top-of-atmosphere equivalent reflectance typically falls in the range of 0.03 to 0.12 at midvisible wavelengths and can be below 0.01 in the near-infrared, when an optically thin aerosol layer is viewed over a dark ocean surface. Special attention must be given to radiometric calibration if aerosol optical thickness, and any information about particle microphysical properties, are to be reliably retrieved from such observations. MISR low-light-level vicarious calibration is performed in the vicinity of remote islands hosting Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) sun- and sky-scanning radiometers, under low aerosol loading, low wind speed, relatively cloud free conditions. MISR equivalent reflectance is compared with values calculated from a radiative transfer model constrained by coincident, AERONET-retrieved aerosol spectral optical thickness, size distribution, and s...

MISR prelaunch instrument calibration and characterization results

Each of the nine cameras that compose the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) has been rigorously tested, characterized, and calibrated. Requirements on these tests include a 3% (1/spl sigma/) radiometric calibration requirement, spectral response function determination of both the in- and out-of-band regions, and distortion mapping. The latter test determines the relative look-angle to the ground corresponding to each focal plane detector element. This is established to within one-tenth of the instantaneous field-of-view. Most of the performance testing was done on the cameras as they completed assembly. This was done to take advantage of the serial delivery of the hardware, minimize the required size of the thermal-vacuum facilities, and allow testing to occur early in the schedule allocated for the hardware build. This proved to be an effective strategy, as each of the test objectives was met. Additional testing as an integrated instrument included verification of the data packetization, camera pointing, and clearances of the fields-of-view. Results of these studies have shown that the MISR cameras are of high quality and will meet the needs of the MISR science community. Highly accurate calibration data are on-hand and available for conversion of camera output to radiances.

PARABOLA III: A sphere‐scanning radiometer for field determination of surface anisotropic reflectance functions

The Portable Apparatus for Rapid Acquisition of Bidirectional Observation of the Land and Atmosphere III (PARABOLA III) is a sphere‐scanning radiometer. The original PARABOLA was built to study the relationship between surface morphology and reflected radiation properties. Follow‐on work led to the design of an improved radiometer, the PARABOLA III. This in‐situ sensor will be used to validate surface reflectances at angles measured by the Multi‐angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR), a global imager flown on the Earth Observing System (EOS)‐Terra orbital spacecraft. Derived PARABOLA III data products include the surface bidirectional reflectance factor, and sky and surface radiances for the upward and downward viewing hemispheres. This paper describes the design, calibration, and operation of the JPL PARABOLA III.

Ground measurements of surface BRF and HDRF using PARABOLA III

The ground-based Portable Apparatus for Rapid Acquisition of Bidirectional Observations of Land and Atmosphere (PARABOLA), version 3, provides multiangle measurements of sky and ground radiances on a spherical grid of 5° in the zenith-to-nadir and azimuthal planes in eight spectral channels. The hemispherical directional reflectance factor (HDRF) can be measured directly by comparing the radiance reflected by the surface in given direction to that reflected from a reference surface simultaneously observed by the PARABOLA 3. The surface bidirectional reflectance factor (BRF) cannot be measured directly, however, because of the presence of the sky diffuse illumination. The contribution of the diffuse sky radiance to the radiance reflected by the natural target surface is computed, and removed, using an iterative technique. Two approaches are employed: the first requires knowledge of the atmospheric optical depth, and the second requires the simultaneous measurements of the radiance reflected by a standard surface panel under the same atmospheric and illumination conditions. Ground measurements of the BRF and HDRF for dry lake surfaces were obtained from the PARABOLA 3 observations with better than ± 10% accuracy. The results described in this work are used primarily for the vicarious calibration of the Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) onboard the Earth Observing System (EOS) Terra platform and for validation of MISR BRF retrievals of selected Earth surface targets.

MISR Stereo Heights of Grassland Fire Smoke Plumes in Australia

Plume heights from wildfires are used in climate modeling to predict and understand trends in aerosol transport. This paper examines whether smoke from grassland fires in the desert regions of western and central Australia ever rises above the atmospheric boundary layer. Three methods for deriving plume heights from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument were utilized: (1) the MISR standard stereo-height algorithm; (2) the MISR enhanced stereo product; and (3) the MISR INteractive eXplorer (MINX) v.1 tool. To provide context and to search for correlative factors, stereo heights were combined with fire radiant energy flux from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument, atmospheric structure information from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis project model, surface cover from the Australia National Vegetation Information System, and forward and backward trajectories from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model. Although most smoke plumes concentrate in the near-surface boundary layer as expected, some appear to rise higher. Smoke that gets above the boundary layer will travel farther, remain in the atmosphere longer, and therefore have a larger environmental impact. It was previously thought unlikely for grassland fires to inject smoke above the boundary layer. Our findings suggest that climate modelers should reevaluate common assumptions about the heights of smoke plumes when producing aerosol transport models involving grassland fires. A closer examination of grassland fire energetics may also be warranted.

Vicarious calibration: A reflectance-based experiment with AirMISR

Abstract A vicarious reflectance-based calibration experiment for the Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) airborne simulator, AirMISR, is described as one precursor experiment of this type planned for postlaunch application to MISR itself. The experiment produces a set of multiangle near-top-of-atmosphere radiances that are compared with the multiangle AirMISR radiances, established using a laboratory calibration. The field and aircraft data were collected as part of an engineering test flight at Moffett Field, CA, on November 5, 1997. A concrete tarmac was used as the field target. Atmospheric optical depth data were collected adjacent to the target throughout the actual overflight period using a single Reagan solar radiometer. For logistical reasons, the surface hemispherical directional reflectance factor (HDRF) was determined 7 days later using the Portable Apparatus for Rapid Acquisition of Bidirectional Observation of the Land and Atmosphere III (PARABOLA III), along with the areally averaged spectral HDRF at normal incidence, obtained with an Analytical Spectral Devices (ASD) FieldSpec moderate resolution field spectrometer. AirMISR overflew the target under clear sky conditions though the aerosol turbidity was high (∼0.3 at 550 nm). Good to fair agreement has been obtained at all angles and wavelengths between the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiances calculated for the measured atmospheric and surface conditions and the radiances incident at AirMISR as determined from the laboratory calibration. Some systematic disagreements are present. The largest disagreements (∼15% in the blue) are found at the highest view angles and the smallest at nadir viewing (