A critical examination of the residual cloud contamination and diurnal sampling effects on MODIS estimates of aerosol over ocean

Observations of the aerosol optical thickness (AOT) by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments aboard Terra and Aqua satellites are being used extensively for applications to climate and air quality studies. Data quality is essential for these studies. Here we investigate the effects of unresolved clouds on the MODIS measurements of the AOT. The main cloud effect is from residual cirrus that increases the AOT by 0.015/spl plusmn/0.003 at 0.55 /spl mu/m. In addition, lower level clouds can add contamination. We examine the effect of lower clouds using the difference between simultaneously measured MODIS and AERONET AOT. The difference is positively correlated with the cloud fraction. However, interpretation of this difference is sensitive to the definition of cloud contamination versus aerosol growth. If we consider this consistent difference between MODIS and AERONET to be entirely due to cloud contamination we get a total cloud contamination of 0.025/spl plusmn/0.005, though a more likely estimate is closer to 0.020 after accounting for aerosol growth. This reduces the difference between MODIS-observed global aerosol optical thickness over the oceans and model simulations by half, from 0.04 to 0.02. However it is insignificant for studies of aerosol cloud interaction. We also examined how representative are the MODIS data of the diurnal average aerosol. Comparison to monthly averaged sunphotometer data confirms that either the Terra or Aqua estimate of global AOT is a valid representation of the daily average. Though in the vicinity of aerosol sources such as fires, we do not expect this to be true.     

Differences Between Collection 4 and 5 MODIS Ice Cloud Optical/Microphysical Products and Their Impact on Radiative Forcing Simulations

This paper reports on the comparison of two latest versions (collections 4 and 5) of ice cloud products derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) measurements. The differences between the bulk optical properties of ice clouds used in collections 4 and 5 and the relevant impact on simulating the correlation of the bidirectional reflection functions at two MODIS bands centered at 0.65 (or 0.86) and 2.13 mum are investigated. The level-3 MODIS ice cloud properties (specifically, ice cloud fraction, optical thickness, and effective particle size in this paper) from the collection 4 and 5 datasets are compared for a tropical belt of 30deg S-30deg N. Furthermore, the impact of the differences between the MODIS collection 4 and 5 ice cloud products on the simulation of the radiative forcing of these clouds is investigated. Over the tropics, the averaged ice cloud fraction from collection 5 is 1.1% more than the collection 4 counterpart, the averaged optical thickness from collection 5 is 1.2 larger than the collection 4 counterpart, and the averaged effective particle radius from collection 5 is 1.8 mum smaller than the collection 4 counterpart. Moreover, the magnitude of the differences between collection 5 and 4 ice cloud properties also depends on the surface characteristics, i.e., over land or over ocean. The differences of these two datasets (collections 4 and 5) of cloud properties can have a significant impact on the simulation of the radiative forcing of ice clouds. In terms of total (longwave plus shortwave) cloud radiative forcing, the differences between the collection 5 and 4 results are distributed primarily between -60 and 20 W ldr m^-2 but peak at 0 W ldr m^-2.     

Optical thickness of tropical cirrus clouds derived from the MODIS 0.66and 1.375-/spl mu/m channels

In this paper, we introduce a method to retrieve the optical thickness of tropical cirrus clouds using the isolated visible cirrus reflectance (without atmospheric and surface effects). The isolated cirrus reflectance is inferred from level 1b calibrated 0.66- and 1.375-/spl mu/m Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data. We created an optical properties database and optical thickness lookup library using previously calculated single-scattering data in conjunction with the discrete ordinates radiative transfer (DISORT) code. An algorithm was constructed based on this lookup library to infer the optical thickness of tropical cirrus clouds for each pixel in a MODIS image. We demonstrate the applicability of this algorithm using several independent MODIS images from the Terra satellite. The present method is complimentary to the MODIS operational cloud retrieval algorithm for the case of cirrus clouds.     

Remote sensing of cloud, aerosol, and water vapor properties fromthe moderate resolution imaging spectrometer (MODIS)

The authors describe the status of MODIS-N and its companion instrument MODIS-T (tilt), a tiltable cross-track scanning spectrometer with 32 uniformly spaced channels between 0.410 and 0.875 μm. They review the various methods being developed for the remote sensing of atmospheric properties using MODIS, placing primary emphasis on the principal atmospheric applications of determining the optical, microphysical, and physical properties of clouds and aerosol particles from spectral reflection and thermal emission measurements. In addition to cloud and aerosol properties, MODIS-N will be used for determining the total precipitable water vapor and atmospheric stability. The physical principles behind the determination of each of these atmospheric products are described, together with an example of their application to aircraft and/or satellite measurements     

Multisensor Data Product Fusion for Aerosol Research

Combining data sets from multiple satellite sensors is a powerful method for studying Earth-atmosphere problems. By fusing data, we can utilize the strengths of the individual sensors that may not be otherwise possible. In this paper, we provide the framework for combining level 2 data products, using data from three sensors aboard the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Terra satellite. These data include top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) radiative energy fluxes obtained from the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES), aerosol optical thickness from the multispectral Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and aerosol properties from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR). The CERES Single Scanner Footprint (SSF) contains the pixel level CERES TOA fluxes and the level 2 MODIS aerosol data. We specifically focus upon fusing the CERES SSF with the MISR aerosol products. Although this project was undertaken specifically to address aerosol research, the methods employed for fusing data products can be used for other problems requiring synergistic data sets. We present selected case studies over different aerosol regimes and indicate that multisensor information provides value-added information for aerosol research that is not available from a single sensor.     

基于江西地区多卫星数据的气溶胶立体分布研究

利用长时间序列（2007~2014年）的MODIS/Terra数据探讨了江西地区气溶胶光学厚度（aerosol optical depth, AOD）空间变化特征,发现该地区平均AOD呈现由南往北逐渐递增的趋势,其中,九江和南昌达到最高。同时,利用CALIPSO/CALIOP 垂直特征掩膜获得了气溶胶层与云层的混合和分离状态,计算了气溶胶、不同子类型气溶胶和云的垂直概率分布和最大似然高度（maximum probability height, MPH）。结果表明：气溶胶主要聚集在1~3.5 km,气溶胶层和云层混合状态出现的概率高于分离状态。在2～4 km之间,春季污染沙尘出现的概率最高,冬季次之,夏季与秋季相当,而烟尘气溶胶夏季出现的概率最高,春、冬季相当,秋季次之。基于夜间CALIOP数据计算得到的气溶胶和云的MPH均表现出较大的季节差异性。     

基于MODIS云参数的卷云反射率计算研究

卷云反射率是天气、气候和地球能量平衡研究中关注的重要参数。卷云反射率的快速算法在遥感反演卷云特性参数中具有重要应用。依据卷云反射率随卷云光学厚度、有效尺度、太阳天顶角、观测天顶角、相对方位角等参数的变化,利用离散坐标法（Discrete Ordinate Radiative Transfer method,DISORT）计算卷云反射率,预先建立卷云反射率随相关参数变化的快速查找表,以此建立了卷云反射率的快速算法。将MODIS卫星探测的卷云光学厚度、太阳天顶角、观测天顶角、相对方位角等因素作为输入参数,计算得到了卷云反射率,比较了计算的卷云反射率和MODIS实际测量的卷云反射率值,相关系数达到0.94,平均偏差小于18.5%,说明了卷云快速算法计算合理可行。     

First results from the OMI rotational Raman scattering cloud pressure algorithm

We have developed an algorithm to retrieve scattering cloud pressures and other cloud properties with the Aura Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). The scattering cloud pressure is retrieved using the effects of rotational Raman scattering (RRS). It is defined as the pressure of a Lambertian surface that would produce the observed amount of RRS consistent with the derived reflectivity of that surface. The independent pixel approximation is used in conjunction with the Lambertian-equivalent reflectivity model to provide an effective radiative cloud fraction and scattering pressure in the presence of broken or thin cloud. The derived cloud pressures will enable accurate retrievals of trace gas mixing ratios, including ozone, in the troposphere within and above clouds. We describe details of the algorithm that will be used for the first release of these products. We compare our scattering cloud pressures with cloud-top pressures and other cloud properties from the Aqua Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument. OMI and MODIS are part of the so-called A-train satellites flying in formation within 30 min of each other. Differences between OMI and MODIS are expected because the MODIS observations in the thermal infrared are more sensitive to the cloud top whereas the backscattered photons in the ultraviolet can penetrate deeper into clouds. Radiative transfer calculations are consistent with the observed differences. The OMI cloud pressures are shown to be correlated with the cirrus reflectance. This relationship indicates that OMI can probe through thin or moderately thick cirrus to lower lying water clouds.     

基于反射率统计模型填充MODIS AOD中国陆地缺值区域

针对MODIS气溶胶产品受算法局限性、厚云层造成缺值问题,提出基于反射率统计模型的普通克里金-自然邻近插值方法,利用6S辐射传输模型模拟MODIS蓝光波段表观反射率随地表反射率、气溶胶光学厚度(aerosol optical depth, AOD)的响应变化,建立反射率与AOD的统计模型。采用2017年11月的中国区域气溶胶产品MOD04_L2、反射率数据做实验,并利用时空匹配的AERONET地基站数据做交叉验证,结果表明：利用该方法填充MOD04_L2中国缺值区域精度较好,60%以上的插补结果处于期望误差界限内,不仅能有效解决低反射率地区AOD有效值缺失问题,而且不受气溶胶类型假设不当影响。     

利用MODIS数据对北极夏季卷云特性的研究

利用2011~2014年MODIS云产品数据对北极地区夏季卷云的出现概率、云顶温度、云顶高度、光学厚度、有效粒径大小进行统计分析,并讨论了北极地区夏季卷云有效粒径大小和卷云高度的关系。结果表明,北极地区上空夏季卷云出现概率最高,水云较少。卷云云顶温度主要分布在230~272 K(即-43~-5℃),其云顶高度主要在2~8 km,4.5~6 km出现概率最大。卷云的光学厚度主要在小于10范围内。卷云的有效粒径在5~40 m之间,10~20 m出现概率最大。卷云的有效粒径和高度的关系与中纬度地区相反,北极地区卷云高度越高,卷云有效粒径越大。北极地区卷云随着纬度增大,卷云出现概率增加,卷云云顶温度降低,卷云高度增加,卷云有效粒径增大,卷云光学厚度增大。     

Cloud cover comparisons of the MODIS daytime cloud mask with surface instruments at the north slope of Alaska ARM site

This paper compares daytime cloud fraction derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS), an imager on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Earth Observing System Aqua and Terra platforms, to observations from a suite of surface-based instrumentation located at the Department of Energy's atmospheric radiation measurement (ARM) program North Slope of Alaska (NSA) Clouds and Radiation Testbed site. In this systematic comparison of satellite-to-surface measurements, 3650 cases are analyzed from February through September 2001. The surface instruments used in these comparisons include the Vaisala Ceilometer (VCEIL), the Micropulse Lidar (MPL), the Active Remote Sensing of Clouds (ARSCL) composite laser-derived data product, the Whole-Sky Imager (WSI), and the Normal Incidence Pyrheliometer (NIP). In terms of the active sensors, VCEIL cloud cover results compare to within /spl plusmn/20% of MODIS results 77% of the time. As expected, VCEIL is found to be insensitive to optically thin high-level clouds. MPL results are consistent with MODIS in 83% of the cases; however, the MPL preliminary.cbh variable reports spurious clouds in clear-sky conditions. The ARSCL composite laser-derived data product agrees with MODIS in 81% of the cases, improving upon high cloud detection of the VCEIL, while eliminating the spurious clear-sky cloud detections in the MPL preliminary.cbh variable. For the passive WSI, cloud cover agrees with the MODIS cloud fraction in 74% of the cases, with the difference primarily caused by the insensitivity of the WSI to thin clouds. Detailed analysis of individual cases shows that the MODIS cloud mask generally detects more thin cirrus than the surface-based instruments, but it sometimes fails to detect low-level cumulus and fog over the ARM NSA site.     

Retrievals of profiles of fine and coarse aerosols using lidar and radiometric space measurements

The Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) spaceborne lidar, expected to be launched in 2004, will collect profiles of the lidar attenuated backscattering coefficients of aerosol and clouds at 0.53 and 1.06 /spl mu/m. The measurements are sensitive to the vertical distribution of aerosols. However, the information is insufficient to be mapped into unique aerosol physical properties and vertical distribution. Spectral radiances measured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) on the Aqua spacecraft, acquired simultaneously with the CALIPSO observations, can constrain the solutions. The combination of the MODIS and CALIPSO data can be used to derive extinction profiles of the fine and coarse modes of the aerosol size distribution for aerosol optical thickness of 0.1 and larger. Here we describe a new inversion method developed to invert simultaneously MODIS and CALIPSO data over glint-free ocean. The method is applied to aircraft lidar and MODIS data collected over a dust storm off the coast of West Africa during the Saharan Dust Experiment (SHADE). The backscattering-to-extinction ratio (BER) (BER=/spl omega//sub o/P(180)/4/spl pi/) can be retrieved from the synergism between measurements avoiding a priori hypotheses required for inverting lidar measurements alone. For dust, the resultant value of BER =0.016 sr/sup -1/ is over 50% smaller than what is expected using Mie theory, but in good agreement with recent results obtained from Raman lidar observations of dust episodes. The inversion is robust in the presence of 10% and 20% noise in the lidar signal at 0.53 and 1.06 /spl mu/m, respectively. Calibration errors of the lidar of 5% to 10% can cause an error in optical thickness of 20% to 40%, respectively, in the tested cases.     

基于MODIS云产品的北京地区卷云特性统计分析

利用2007年1月到2008年12月北京地区MODIS云产品数据（MYD06）,对北京地区卷云的光学厚度、有效尺度、和卷云云顶高度的概率分布和季节变化进行了统计分析,并对卷云出现的概率分布进行了研究。结果表明,卷云的云顶高度主要分布在6~12 km处,典型高度在9 km左右,卷云云顶高度分布随季节变化而变化。卷云的有效尺度主要分布在20~80 um之间,40~50 um间概率最大。卷云有效尺度随季节变化不大,并在一定程度上依赖于卷云的云顶高度。北京上空出现的冰云基本上都是不透明冰云。卷云光学厚度主要分布在0~10间,光学厚度小于5出现的概率大。冬季北京地区卷云出现的概率较小,光学厚度较小。     

利用FY-1C资料反演水云的光学厚度和粒子有效半径

利用FY-IC极轨气象卫星扫描辐射计的通道1(0．58—0．68μm)、通道3(3．55—3．95μm)和通道6(1．58—1．64μm)所提供的探测数据进行了水云光学厚度和粒子有效半径的反演试验．在非水汽吸收波段(如通道1)，云的反射函数主要是云光学厚度的函数，而在水汽吸收波段(如通道6)，云的反射函数主要是云粒子大小的函数．因此当云光学厚度较厚时，可利用通道1和通道6反射率，或通道1反射率和通道3亮度温度同时计算出云的光学厚度和有效粒子半径。     

The determination of the atmospheric optical thickness over Western Europe using SeaWiFS imagery

The first results obtained from the aerosol-cloud retrieval algorithm (developed at the University of Bremen) are presented. The algorithm enables the observation of the regional characteristics of aerosol and cloud optical thickness both over land and ocean surfaces. The aerosol and cloud optical thickness over Western Europe is derived from the high-resolution SeaWiFS data for October 11, 2001 (11:30 UTC). The most probable value of the aerosol optical thickness was found to be equal approximately 0.25. The frequency distributions of the aerosol and cloud optical thickness are skewed and have long tails for larger optical thickness. It was found that retrieved values of the aerosol optical thickness at wavelengths 0.412 and 0.440 /spl mu/m are close to those measured by five ground-based instruments placed at different locations. The problems related to the retrieval of the atmospheric optical thickness from space are discussed.     

喇曼激光雷达探测云及其附近气溶胶光学参量

为了研究喇曼激光雷达探测云与气溶胶相互作用相关光学参量的可行性,研制了一台607nm喇曼激光雷达。采用适当提高喇曼激光雷达配置的方法,提高了喇曼回波信号信噪比。通过实验取得了晴空少云天气下云和气溶胶的消光系数垂直廓线,给出了喇曼激光雷达观测云与气溶胶相互作用的个例分析,说明利用地基喇曼激光雷达,可以为研究云与气溶胶之间相互作用的物理过程提供基础数据,并指出正在研制的多波长喇曼-偏振激光雷达技术探测云与气溶胶相互作用的技术优势。结果表明,喇曼激光雷达具备定量探测中低自由对流层内薄云层和气溶胶消光系数的能力。     

The determination of cloud altitudes using GOME reflectance spectra: multilayered cloud systems

This paper is devoted to the application of the Semi-Analytical Cloud Retrieval Algorithm (SACURA) to the cloud-top height determination using data from the Global Ozone Measurement Experiment (GOME) instrument onboard Earth Remote Sensing satellite (ERS-2). In particular, measurements of the top-of-atmosphere reflectance in the oxygen absorption A-band are used. The technique is based on the asymptotic radiative transfer theory as applied to studies of the oxygen absorption bands in reflected light. Our approach is valid for optically thick clouds with cloud optical thickness larger than approximately 5. The accuracy of the algorithm is checked against independent retrieval techniques for completely cloudy pixels. In particular, the close coincidence with data obtained from the Along Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR-2) onboard ERS-2 is found. Some results of retrievals using these different instruments disagree (up to 2 km). This is explained by the strong horizontal inhomogeneity of clouds under investigation, which is not accounted by the SACURA or, possibly, by well-known problems of infrared techniques as applied to low-level clouds. The effective cloud geometrical thickness l is also retrieved. This parameter is defined as the geometrical thickness of a vertically homogeneous cloud, which allows for the minimization of differences between observed and calculated top-of-atmosphere reflectance spectra. For inhomogeneous clouds, the value of l differs from a real cloud geometrical thickness, but it gives us an indication of the possible existence of the multilayered cloud system in the field of view of the optical instrument.     

Retrieval, validation, and application of the 1-km aerosol optical depth from MODIS measurements over Hong Kong

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol retrieval algorithm was developed to derive aerosol properties at a global scale, suitable for climate studies. Under favorable conditions (clear sky and over dark surfaces), the standard 10/spl times/10 km MODIS aerosol products are also useful on regional scales to monitor aerosol distributions and transports. However, the 10-km resolution is insufficient to depict aerosol variation on local or urban scales, due to inherent aerosol variability as well as complex surface terrain. In this study, we have modified the MODIS algorithm to retrieve aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 1-km resolution over Hong Kong, a city of just over 1000 km/sup 2/ with very complex surface features. Accompanied by the increased spatial resolution are new aerosol models derived with single-scattering albedo (SSA) around 0.91-0.94 to accommodate higher aerosol absorption encountered in Hong Kong than that was presumed for MODIS standard products (SSA/spl sim/0.97) over the region. The derived AOD data are compared to handheld Microtops II sunphotometer observations at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and other locations across Hong Kong. Retrieval errors within 15% to 20% of sunphotometer measurements are found. Moreover, when compared with the standard 10-km AOD products, the 1-km AOD data are much better correlated with PM/sub 10/ measurements across Hong Kong, suggesting that the new 1-km AOD data can be used to better characterize the particulate matter distribution for cities like Hong Kong than the MODIS standard products.     

中国区域MODIS三个版本气溶胶产品的对比研究

准确获取气溶胶光学厚度对于气候变化研究和大气环境监测具有重要意义,卫星反演气溶胶光学厚度的产品较多,开展不同气溶胶光学厚度产品间的对比研究,可为用户选择适合的气溶胶光学厚度产品提供重要依据。应用地基气溶胶观测网AERONET提供的气溶胶光学厚度数据,分析了MODIS气溶胶产品对中国区域四种典型下垫面的适用性。通过对比发现：在中国区域,城郊、森林、湖泊下垫面气溶胶光学厚度反演算法中第六版本最优,城市下垫面气溶胶光学厚度反演算法中第五版本最好。研究结论可为中国区域的MODIS气溶胶产品选择提供参考。     

气溶胶散射对海洋水色遥感辐射偏振校正的影响

辐射偏振校正对具有相对较大偏振响应的海洋水色卫星遥感器(如Aqua MODIS)是十分必要的,可在一定程度上提高海洋水色信息提取的精度.目前, MODIS已经实现了业务化的辐射偏振校正,但其算法中忽略了气溶胶散射对大气顶辐射偏振分量的影响.利用海洋-大气耦合矢量辐射传输模型PCOART,分别模拟获得纯瑞利大气(无气溶胶)和气溶胶光学厚度为0.2大气时的大气顶辐射偏振分量.结果表明,除太阳耀斑区外,气溶胶散射对蓝光波段(443 nm)大气顶线偏振辐亮度的贡献很小,可以忽略不计,而对近红外波段(865 nm)大气顶线偏振辐亮度的贡献显著.此外,将PCOART数值模拟的大气顶瑞利散射辐射线偏振反射率与POLDER实际观测的大气顶线偏振反射率进行了比较,结果同样说明了气溶胶散射对蓝光波段(443 nm)大气顶线偏振反射率的贡献很小,而对近红外波段(865 nm).大气顶线偏振反射率的贡献显著.最后,在现有MODIS辐射偏振校正算法基础上,提出了考虑气溶胶散射的海洋水色卫星遥感辐射偏振校正算法,并利用POLDER实测的大气顶线偏振反射率对算法进行了检验,结果表明,无论是在443 nm波段,还是在865 nm波段,均比MODIS辐射偏振校正算法估算大气顶辐射偏振分量更接近POLDER实测结果.