Jeff McIntire

VIIRS on‐orbit calibration methodology and performance

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor aboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership spacecraft has successfully operated since its launch in October 2011. The VIIRS collects data in 22 spectral bands that are calibrated by a set of onboard calibrators (OBC). In addition, lunar observations are made to independently track VIIRS long-term calibration stability for the reflective solar bands (RSB). This paper provides an overview of VIIRS OBC functions as well as its on-orbit operation and calibration activities. It also describes sensor calibration methodologies and demonstrates VIIRS on-orbit performance from launch to present. Results reported in this paper include on-orbit changes in sensor spectral band responses, detector noise characterization, and key calibration parameters. Issues identified and their potential impacts on sensor calibration are also discussed. Since launch, the VIIRS instrument nominal operation temperature has been stable to within ±1.0 K. The cold focal plane temperatures have been well controlled, with variations of less than 20 mK over a period of 1.5 years. In general, changes in thermal emissive bands (TEB) detector responses have been less than 0.5%. Despite large response degradation in several near-infrared and short-wave infrared bands and large SD degradation at short visible wavelengths, the VIIRS sensor and OBC overall performance has been excellent postlaunch. The degradation caused by the telescope mirror coating contamination has been modeled and its impact addressed through the use of modulated relative spectral response in the improved calibration and the current sensor data record data production. Based on current instrument characteristics and performance, it is expected that the VIIRS calibration will continue to meet its design requirements, including RSB detector signal to noise ratio and TEB detector noise equivalent temperature difference, throughout its 7 year design lifetime.

Initial on-orbit radiometric calibration of the Suomi NPP VIIRS reflective solar bands

The on-orbit radiometric response calibration of the VISible/Near InfraRed (VISNIR) and the Short-Wave InfraRed (SWIR) bands of the Visible/Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) aboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite is carried out through a Solar Diffuser (SD). The transmittance of the SD screen and the SD’s Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) are measured before launch and tabulated, allowing the VIIRS sensor aperture spectral radiance to be accurately determined. The radiometric response of a detector is described by a quadratic polynomial of the detector’s digital number (dn). The coefficients were determined before launch. Once on orbit, the coefficients are assumed to change by a common factor: the F-factor. The radiance scattered from the SD allows the determination of the F-factor. In this Proceeding, we describe the methodology and the associated algorithms in the determination of the F-factors and discuss the results.

S-NPP VIIRS Thermal Emissive Bands On-Orbit Calibration and Performance

Presented is an assessment of the on-orbit radiometric performance of the thermal emissive bands (TEB) of the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument based on data from the first 2 years of operations—from 20 January 2012 to 20 January 2014. The VIIRS TEB are calibrated on orbit using a V-grooved blackbody (BB) as a radiance source. Performance characteristics trended over the life of the mission include the F factor—a measure of the gain change of the TEB detectors; the Noise Equivalent differential Temperature (NEdT)—a measure of the detector noise; and the detector offset and nonlinear terms trended at the quarterly performed BB warm-up cool-down cycles. We find that the BB temperature is well controlled and stable within the 30mK requirement. The F factor trends are very stable and showing little degradation (within 0.8%). The offsets and nonlinearity terms are also without noticeable drifts. NEdT is stable and does not show any trend. Other TEB radiometric calibration-related activities discussed include the on-orbit assessment of the response versus scan-angle functions and an approach to improve the M13 low-gain calibration using onboard lunar measurements. We conclude that all the assessed parameters comply with the requirements, and the TEB provide radiometric measurements with the required accuracy.

Analysis of Suomi–NPP VIIRS vignetting functions basedon yaw maneuver data

The Suomi – NPP Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) reflective bands are calibrated on-orbit via reference to regular solar observations through a solar attenuation screen (SAS) and diffusely reflected off a Spectralon ® panel. The degradation of the Spectralon panel BRDF due to UV exposure is tracked via a ratioing radiometer (SDSM) which compares near simultaneous observations of the panel with direct observations of the sun (through a separate attenuation screen). On-orbit, the vignetting functions of both attenuation screens are most easily measured when the satellite performs a series of yaw maneuvers over a short period of time (thereby covering the yearly angular variation of solar observations in a couple of days). Because the SAS is fixed, only the product of the screen transmission and the panel BRDF was measured. Moreover, this product was measured by both VIIRS detectors as well as the SDSM detectors (albeit at different reflectance angles off the Spectralon panel). The SDSM screen is also fixed; in this case, the screen transmission was measured directly. Corrections for instrument drift and degradation, solar geometry, and spectral effects were taken into consideration. The resulting vignetting functions were then compared to the pre-launch measurements as well as models based on screen geometry.

Suomi NPP VIIRS spectral characterization:understanding multiple RSR releases

The Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite was successfully launched on October 28, 2011, beginning the on-orbit era of the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). In support of atlaunch readiness, VIIRS underwent a rigorous pre-launch test program to characterize its spatial, radiometric, and spectral performance. Spectral measurements, the subject of this paper, were collected during instrument level testing at Raytheon Corp. (summer 2009), and then again in a special spectral test for VisNIR bands during spacecraft level testing at Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. (spring 2010). These spectral performance measurements were analyzed by industry (Northrop Grumman, NG) and by the Relative Spectral Response (RSR) subgroup of the Government team, (NASA, Aerospace Corp., MIT/Lincoln Lab, Univ. Wisconsin) leading to releases of the S-NPP VIIRS RSR characterization by both NG and the Government team. The NG RSR analysis was planned to populate the Look-Up-Tables (LUTs) that support the various VIIRS operational products, while the Government team analysis was initially intended as a verification of the NG RSR product as well as an early release RSR characterization for the science community’s pre-launch application. While the Government team deemed the NG December 2010 RSR release as acceptable for the “at-launch” RSR characterization during the pre-launch phase, the Government team has now (post-launch checkout phase) recommended for using the NG October 2011 RSR release as an update for the LUTs used in VIIRS SDR and EDR operational processing. Meanwhile the Government team RSR releases remain available to the community for their investigative interests, and may evolve if new understanding of VIIRS spectral performance is revealed in the S-NPP post-launch era.

Preliminary Assessment of Suomi-NPP VIIRS On-orbit Radiometric Performance

The Visible-Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) is a key instrument on-board the Suomi National Polarorbiting Partnership (NPP) spacecraft that was launched on October 28th 2011. VIIRS was designed to provide moderate and imaging resolution of the planet Earth twice daily. It is a wide-swath (3,040 km) cross-track scanning radiometer with spatial resolutions of 375 m and 750 m at nadir for imaging and moderate bands, respectively. It has 22 spectral bands covering the spectrum between 0.4 μm and 12.5 μm, including 14 reflective solar bands (RSB), 7 thermal emissive bands (TEB), and 1 day-night band (DNB). VIIRS observations are used to generate 22 environmental data record (EDRs). This paper will briefly describe NPP VIIRS calibration strategies performed by the independent government team, for the initial on-orbit Intensive Calibration and Validation (ICV) activities. In addition, this paper will provide an early assessment of the sensor on-orbit radiometric performance, such as the sensor signal to noise ratios (SNRs), dual gain transition verification, dynamic range and linearity, reflective bands calibration based on the solar diffuser (SD) and solar diffuser stability monitor (SDSM), emissive bands calibration based on the on-board blackbody calibration (OBC), and cross-comparison with MODIS. A comprehensive set of performance metrics generated during the pre-launch testing program will be compared to VIIRS early on-orbit performance, and a plan for future cal/val activities and performance enhancements will be presented.

Comparison of MODIS and VIIRS On-board blackbody Performance

MODIS has 16 thermal emissive bands (TEB) with wavelengths ranging from 3.7 to 14.4 μm. MODIS TEB are calibrated on-orbit by a v-grooved blackbody (BB) on a scan-by-scan basis. The BB temperatures are measured by a set of 12 thermistors. As expected, the BB temperature uncertainty and stability have direct impact on TEB calibration quality and, therefore, the quality of the science products derived from TEB observations. Since launch, Terra and Aqua ODIS have successfully operated for more than 12 and 10 years, respectively. Overall performance of each on-board BB has been satisfactory, meeting the TEB on-orbit calibration requirements. The first VIIRS instrument was launched on-board the Suomi NPP spacecraft on October 28, 2011. It has successfully completed its initial Intensive Calibration and Validation (ICV) phase. As a followed-up instrument to MODIS, VIIRS has 7 TEB, covering wavelengths from 3.7 to 12.0 μm. Designed with strong MODIS heritage, VIIRS uses a similar BB for its TEB calibration. Like MODIS, VIIRS BB is nominally controlled at a constant temperature. Periodically, a BB Warm-Up and Cool-Down (WUCD) operation is performed, during which the BB temperatures vary from instrument ambient (temperature) to 315 K. Following a brief review of MODIS and VIIRS BB operation strategy, this paper examines and compares their on-orbit performance in terms of BB temperature scan-to-scan variations during sensor nominal operations as well as during periodic BB WUCD operations. In addition, this paper shows the noise characterization results for the closely matched MODIS and VIIRS spectral bands.

Calibration of NPP VIIRS fire detection band using lunar observations

The National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) includes a fire detection band at roughly 4 μm. This spectral band has two gain states; fire detection occurs in the low gain state above approximately 343 K. VIIRS thermal bands utilize an on-board blackbody to provide on-orbit calibration. However, as the maximum temperature of this blackbody is 315 K, the low gain state of the 4 μm band cannot be calibrated in the same manner. Regular observations of the Moon provide an alternative calibration source, as the maximum surface temperature is around 390 K. The periodic on-board high gain calibration along with a surface temperature map based on LRO DIVINER observations was used to determine the emissivity and reflected radiance of the lunar surface at 4 μm; these factors and the lunar data are then used to calibrate the low gain state of the fire band. Our analysis suggests that the responsivity of the low gain state is lower than the pre-launch value currently in use.

Results from solar reflective band end-to-end testing for VIIRS F1 sensor using T-SIRCUS

Verification of the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) End-to-End (E2E) sensor calibration is highly recommended before launch, to identify any anomalies and to improve our understanding of the sensor onorbit calibration performance. E2E testing of the Reflective Solar Bands (RSB) calibration cycle was performed pre-launch for the VIIRS Flight 1 (F1) sensor at the Ball Aerospace facility in Boulder CO in March 2010. VIIRS reflective band calibration cycle is very similar to heritage sensor MODIS in that solar illumination, via a diffuser, is used to correct for temporal variations in the instrument responsivity. Monochromatic light from the NIST T-SIRCUS (Traveling Spectral Irradiance and Radiance Responsivity Calibrations using Uniform Sources) was used to illuminate both the Earth View (EV), via an integrating sphere, and the Solar Diffuser (SD) view, through a collimator. The collimator illumination was cycled through a series of angles intended to simulate the range of possible angles for which solar radiation will be incident on the solar attenuation screen on-orbit. Ideally, the measured instrument responsivity (defined here as the ratio of the detector response to the at-sensor radiance) should be the same whether the EV or SD view is illuminated. The ratio of the measured responsivities was determined at each collimator angle and wavelength. In addition, the Solar Diffuser Stability Monitor (SDSM), a ratioing radiometer designed to track the temporal variation in the SD Bidirectional Reflectance Factor (BRF) by direct comparison to solar radiation, was illuminated by the collimator. The measured SDSM ratio was compared to the predicted ratio. An uncertainty analysis was also performed on both the SD and SDSM calibrations.

Monochromatic Measurements of the JPSS-1 VIIRS Polarization Sensitivity

Polarization sensitivity is a critical property that must be characterized for spaceborne remote sensing instruments designed to measure reflected solar radiation. Broadband testing of the first Joint Polar-orbiting Satellite System (JPSS-1) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) showed unexpectedly large polarization sensitivities for the bluest bands on VIIRS (centered between 400 and 600 nm). Subsequent ray trace modeling indicated that large diattenuation on the edges of the bandpass for these spectral bands was the driver behind these large sensitivities. Additional testing using the National Institute of Standards and Technologys Traveling Spectral Irradiance and Radiance Responsivity Calibrations Using Uniform Sources was added to the test program to verify and enhance the model. The testing was limited in scope to two spectral bands at two scan angles; nonetheless, this additional testing provided valuable insight into the polarization sensitivity. Analysis has shown that the derived diattenuation agreed with the broadband measurements to within an absolute difference of about 0.4% and that the ray trace model reproduced the general features of the measured data. Additionally, by deriving the spectral responsivity, the linear diattenuation is shown to be explicitly dependent on the changes in bandwidth with polarization state.