Reduction of skylight reflection effects in the above-water measurement of diffuse marine reflectance

Reflected skylight in above-water measurements of diffuse marine reflectance can be reduced substantially by viewing the surface through an analyzer transmitting the vertically polarized component of incident radiance. For maximum reduction of effects, radiometric measurements should be made at a viewing zenith angle of ~45 degrees (near the Brewster angle) and a relative azimuth angle between solar and viewing directions greater than 90 degrees (backscattering), preferably 135 degrees . In this case the residual reflected skylight in the polarized signal exhibits minimum sensitivity to the sea state and can be corrected to within a few 10(-4) in reflectance units. For most oceanic waters the resulting relative error on the diffuse marine reflectance in the blue and green is less than 1%. Since the water body polarizes incident skylight, the measured polarized reflectance differs from the total reflectance. The difference, however, is small for the considered geometry. Measurements made at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography pier in La Jolla, Calif., with a specifically designed scanning polarization radiometer, confirm the theoretical findings and demonstrate the usefulness of polarization radiometry for measuring diffuse marine reflectance.     

Reflectance recovery for airborne sensor images of 3D scenes

An airborne sensor measures the radiance spectrum, which is dependent on the spectral reflectance of the ground material, the orientation of the material surface, and the atmospheric and illumination conditions. We present an algorithm to estimate the surface spectral reflectance, given the sensor radiance spectrum corresponding to a single pixel. The algorithm uses a nonlinear physics-based image formation model. A low-dimensional linear subspace model is used for the reflectance spectra. The solar radiance, sky radiance, and path-scattered radiance are dependent on the environmental conditions and viewing geometry, and this interdependence is considered by using a coupled-subspace model for these spectra. The algorithm uses the Levenberg-Marquardt method to estimate the subspace model parameters. We have applied the algorithm to a large set of synthetic and real data.     

Monte Carlo approach for solving the radiative transfer equation over mountainous and heterogeneous areas

An algorithm based on the Monte Carlo method is developed to solve the radiative transfer equation in the reflective domain (0.4-4 mum) of the solar spectrum over rugged terrain. This algorithm takes into account relief, spatial heterogeneity, and ground bidirectional reflectance. The method permits the computation of irradiance components at ground level and radiance terms reaching an airborne or satelliteborne sensor. The Monte Carlo method consists of statistically simulating the paths of photons inside the Earth-atmosphere system to reproduce physical phenomena while introducing neither analytical modeling nor assumption. The potentialities of the code are then depicted over different types of landscape, including a seashore, a desert region, and a steep mountainous valley.     

Reduction of skylight reflection effects in the above-water measurement of diffuse marine reflectance: comment

Use of a vertical polarizer has been suggested to reduce the effects of surface reflection in the above-water measurements of marine reflectance. We suggest using a similar technique for airborne or spaceborne sensors when atmospheric scattering adds its own polarization signature to the upwelling radiance. Our own theoretical sensitivity study supports the recommendation of Fougnie et al. [Appl. Opt. 38, 3844 (1999)] (40-50 degrees vertical angle and azimuth angle near 135 degrees , polarizer parallel to the viewing plane) for above-water measurements. However, the optimal viewing directions (and the optimal orientation of the polarizer) change with altitude above the sea surface, solar angle, and atmospheric vertical optical structure. A polarization efficiency function is introduced, which shows the maximal possible polarization discrimination of the background radiation for an arbitrary altitude above the sea surface, viewing direction, and solar angle. Our comment is meant to encourage broader application of airborne and spaceborne polarization sensors in remote sensing of water and sea surface properties.     

Reflectance-based calibration of SeaWiFS. II. Conversion to radiance

For instruments that carry onboard solar diffusers to orbit, such as the Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS), it is possible to convert the instrument's reflectance measurements to radiance measurements by knowledge of the solar irradiance. This process, which generally requires the application of a solar irradiance model, is described. The application of the irradiance model is separate from the measurements by the instrument and from the instrument's reflectance calibration. In addition, SeaWiFS was calibrated twice before launch for radiance response by use of radiance sources with calibrations traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. With the inclusion of the at-launch diffuser-based radiance calibration, SeaWiFS has three possible radiance calibrations forthe start of on-orbit operations. The combination of these three into a single calibration requires changes of 4% or less for the current at-launch radiance calibration of the instrument. Finally, this process requires changes of 4% or less for the reflectance calibration coefficients to provide consistency among the radiance calibration, the reflectance calibration, and the solar irradiance.     

Effects on skylight at South Pole Station, Antarctica, by ice crystal precipitation in the atmosphere

Measurements of the radiance and polarization of the skylight at South Pole Station, Antarctica, were made for clear cloud-free skies and cloudless skies with ice crystal precipitation. The measurements were made at six narrowband wavelengths from 321 to 872 nm in the principal plane. The data show that scattering by ice crystals increases the radiance in the backscatter plane, decreases it in the solar plane, and shifts the radiance minimum to a point closer to the sun. The crystals decrease the maximum value of linear polarization and shift the position of the maximum away from the sun. The influence of ice crystal scattering is greatest at the longer wavelengths.     

Remote-sensing reflectance determinations in the coastal ocean environment: impact of instrumental characteristics and environmental variability

Three independent ocean color sampling methodologies are compared to assess the potential impact of instrumental characteristics and environmental variability on shipboard remote-sensing reflectance observations from the Santa Barbara Channel, California. Results indicate that under typical field conditions, simultaneous determinations of incident irradiance can vary by 9-18%, upwelling radiance just above the sea surface by 8-18%, and remote-sensing reflectance by 12-24%. Variations in radiometric determinations can be attributed to a variety of environmental factors such as Sun angle, cloud cover, wind speed, and viewing geometry; however, wind speed is isolated as the major source of uncertainty. The above-water approach to estimating water-leaving radiance and remote-sensing reflectance is highly influenced by environmental factors. A model of the role of wind on the reflected sky radiance measured by an above-water sensor illustrates that, for clear-sky conditions and wind speeds greater than 5 m/s, determinations of water-leaving radiance at 490 nm are undercorrected by as much as 60%. A data merging procedure is presented to provide sky radiance correction parameters for above-water remote-sensing reflectance estimates. The merging results are consistent with statistical and model findings and highlight the importance of multiple field measurements in developing quality coastal oceanographic data sets for satellite ocean color algorithm development and validation.     

Observations of reflectance distribution around sunglint from a coastal ocean platform

A scanning spectral photometer is deployed on a rigid coastal ocean platform to measure upwelling solar radiances from the sea surface at nine elevation angles spanning 150 degrees of azimuth. Measured radiance distributions at 500 nm wavelength have been compared with traditional model simulations employing the Cox and Munk distribution of wave slopes. The model captures the general features of the observed angular reflectance distributions, but: (a) the observed peak value of sunglint near the specular direction is larger than simulated, except for a very calm sea; the model-measurement differences increase with wind speed and are largest for low solar elevation; (b) the observed sunglint is wider than simulated. In contrast to some previous studies, our results do not show a clear dependence of the mean square sea-surface slope on stability (air-sea temperature difference).     

Polarized radiance distribution measurement of skylight. II. Experiment and data

Measurements of the skylight polarized radiance distribution were performed at different measurement sites, atmospheric conditions, and three wavelengths with our newly developed Polarization Radiance Distribution Camera System (RADS-IIP), an analyzer-type Stokes polarimeter. Three Stokes parameters of skylight (I, Q, U), the degree of polarization, and the plane of polarization are presented in image format. The Arago point and neutral lines have been observed with RADS-IIP. Qualitatively, the dependence of the intensity and polarization data on wavelength, solar zenith angle, and surface albedo is in agreement with the results from computations based on a plane-parallel Rayleigh atmospheric model.     

Path-radiance correction by polarization observation of Sun glint glitter for remote measurements of tropospheric greenhouse gases

High-accuracy remote measurement of greenhouse gases is hampered by contamination of the field of view by the path radiance of solar radiation scattered from clouds and aerosols. A method is proposed for eliminating the effect of path radiance by differentiating two components of polarized light. The polarization of path radiance is measured directly at the wave-number region of strong water-vapor absorption. Using this measurement, we eliminate the components of path radiance involved in other bands, which are used for greenhouse gas measurements, by differentiating two components of the polarized light. It is shown that the effect of path radiance on retrieving the column amount of gases potentially can be reduced to below 0.1%.     

Field observations of the relation between satellite and sea radiances in coastal waters

Estimates of the different contributions to the satellite radiance above the outer Oslofjord are presented. The contribution from the sea is of the order of 10% of the total signal, and the part due to reflection from the sea surface constitutes 10-20%. The presence of land may increase the satellite radiance up to 4-9%, but such effects, which are probably reduced to 1/e at a distance of 1 km from the coast, cannot be detected in the present measurements. In situ observations of the marine radiance are corrected for shadings by ship and instrument and for varying solar altitude. The average correction for the self-shading effect of the marine instrument becomes 30-50% in these waters. The linear relations between satellite and sea radiances are determined with correlation coefficients of better than 0.95. The observed minimum value of the satellite radiance (or darkest pixel) is not a satisfactory approximation for the atmospheric correction. It is concluded that, in coastal waters and at the present stage, satellite observations have to be combined with field measurements to obtain reliable results.     

Underwater light polarization and radiance fluctuations induced by surface waves

The underwater light field is an ever-changing environment. Surface waves induce variability in the radiance and the light's polarization. We examined the dependence of the polarization fluctuations associated with diffuse light (not including contribution from direct skylight) on the viewing zenith angle (30 degrees, 70 degrees, and 90 degrees), solar zenith angle (23 degrees -72 degrees), depth of 0.5-3 m, and light wavelength (380-650 nm) while observing within the azimuthal plane in the wind-wave direction. Polarization and radiance fluctuated with time. Light variability (presented by the coefficient of variation calculated over a series of fluctuations in the radiance and percent polarization, and by the standard deviation calculated over a series of fluctuations in the e-vector orientation) was highest at a viewing zenith angle of 70 degrees , depended positively on the solar zenith angle, and decreased with depth at viewing zenith angles of 30 degrees and 70 degrees . Additionally, the variability of the percent polarization was significantly higher than that of the radiance. The temporal light fluctuations offer possibilities, such as enhancing the detection of transparent and reflecting objects; however, they set constraints on the optimal underwater polarization vision by both animals and by the use of instruments.     

Estimation of the remote-sensing reflectance from above-surface measurements

The remote-sensing reflectance R(rs) is not directly measurable, and various methodologies have been employed in its estimation. I review the radiative transfer foundations of several commonly used methods for estimating R(rs), and errors associated with estimating R(rs) by removal of surface-reflected sky radiance are evaluated using the Hydrolight radiative transfer numerical model. The dependence of the sea surface reflectance factor rho, which is not an inherent optical property of the surface, on sky conditions, wind speed, solar zenith angle, and viewing geometry is examined. If rho is not estimated accurately, significant errors can occur in the estimated R(rs) for near-zenith Sun positions and for high wind speeds, both of which can give considerable Sun glitter effects. The numerical simulations suggest that a viewing direction of 40 deg from the nadir and 135 deg from the Sun is a reasonable compromise among conflicting requirements. For this viewing direction, a value of rho approximately 0.028 is acceptable only for wind speeds less than 5 m s(-1). For higher wind speeds, curves are presented for the determination of rho as a function of solar zenith angle and wind speed. If the sky is overcast, a value of rho approximately 0.028 is used at all wind speeds.     

Remote sensing of ocean color: a methodology for dealing with broad spectral bands and significant out-of-band response

A methodology for delineating the influence of finite spectral bandwidths and significant out-of-band response of sensors for remote sensing of ocean color is developed and applied to the Sea-viewing Wide-Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS). The basis of the method is the application of the sensor's spectral-response functions to the individual components of the top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) radiance rather than the TOA radiance itself. For engineering purposes, this approach allows one to assess easily (and quantitatively) the potential of a particular sensor design for meeting the system-sensor plus algorithms-performance requirements. In the case of the SeaWiFS, two significant conclusions are reached. First, it is found that the out-of-band effects on the water-leaving radiance component of the TOA radiance are of the order of a few percent compared with a sensor with narrow spectral response. This implies that verification that the SeaWiFS system-sensor plus algorithms-meets the goal of providing the water-leaving radiance in the blue in clear ocean water to within 5% will require measurements of the water-leaving radiance over the entire visible spectrum as opposed to just narrow-band (10-20-nm) measurements in the blue. Second, it is found that the atmospheric correction of the SeaWiFS can be degraded by the influence of water-vapor absorption in the shoulders of the atmospheric-correction bands in the near infrared. This absorption causes an apparent spectral variation of the aerosol component between these two bands that will be uncharacteristic of the actual aerosol present, leading to an error in correction. This effect is dependent on the water-vapor content of the atmosphere. At typical water-vapor concentrations the error is larger for aerosols with a weak spectral variation in reflectance than for those that display a strong spectral variation. If the water-vapor content is known, a simple procedure is provided to remove the degradation of the atmospheric correction. Uncertainty in the water-vapor content will limit the accuracy of the SeaWiFS correction algorithm.     

Diffuse reflectance of oceanic waters. III. Implication of bidirectionality for the remote-sensing problem

The upwelling radiance field beneath the ocean surface and the emerging radiance field are not generally isotropic. Their bidirectional structure depends on the illumination conditions (the Sun's position in particular) and on the optical properties of the water body. In oceanic case 1 waters, these properties can be related, for each wavelength λ, to the chlorophyll (Chl) concentration. We aim to quantify systematically the variations of spectral radiances that emerge from an ocean with varying Chl when we change the geometric conditions, namely, the zenith-Sun angle, the viewing angle, and the azimuth difference between the solar and observational vertical planes. The consequences of these important variations on the interpretation of marine signals, as detected by a satelliteborne ocean color sensor, are analyzed. In particular, the derivation of radiometric quantities, such as R (λ), the spectral reflectance, or [ L(w)(λ)](N), the normalized water-leaving radiance that is free from directional effects, is examined, as well as the retrieval of Chl. We propose a practical method that is based on the use of precomputed lookup tables to provide values of the f/Q ratio in all the necessary conditions[ f relates (R(λ) to the backscattering and absorption coefficients, whereas Q is the ratio of upwelling irradiance to any upwelling radiance]. The f/Q ratio, besides being dependent on the geometric configuration (the three angles mentioned above), also varies with λ and with the bio-optical state, conveniently depicted by Chl. Because Chl is one of the entries for the lookup table, it has to be derived at the beginning of the process, before the radiometric quantities R(λ) or [L(W)(λ)](N) can be produced. The determination of Chl can be made through an iterative process, computationally fast, using the information at two wavelengths. In this attempt to remove the bidirectional effect, the commonly accepted view relative to the data-processing strategy is somewhat modified, i.e., reversed, as the Chl index becomes a prerequisite parameter that must be identified prior to the derivation of the fundamental radiometric quantities at all wavelengths.     

Modeling the noise equivalent radiance requirements of imaging spectrometers based on scientific applications

The derivation of radiometric specifications for imaging spectrometers from the visible to the short-wave infrared part of the spectrum is a task based on the requirements of potential scientific applications. A method for modeling the noise equivalent radiance at-sensor level is proposed. The model starts with surface reflectance signatures, transforms them to at-sensor signatures, and combines signatures of various applications with regard to performance requirements. The wavelength-dependent delta radiances are then derived at predefined radiance levels by use of a model of the sensor performance. The model is applied with regard to the upcoming Airborne Prism Experiment imaging spectrometer system. A combination of various potential application disciplines forms the basis of the experiment. The results help in the definition of radiometric levels for laboratory calibration of the noise equivalent radiance levels, the quantization of the signal, and the spectral range of an instrument to be designed.     

Dynamic range and sensitivity requirements of satellite ocean color sensors: learning from the past

Sensor design and mission planning for satellite ocean color measurements requires careful consideration of the signal dynamic range and sensitivity (specifically here signal-to-noise ratio or SNR) so that small changes of ocean properties (e.g., surface chlorophyll-a concentrations or Chl) can be quantified while most measurements are not saturated. Past and current sensors used different signal levels, formats, and conventions to specify these critical parameters, making it difficult to make cross-sensor comparisons or to establish standards for future sensor design. The goal of this study is to quantify these parameters under uniform conditions for widely used past and current sensors in order to provide a reference for the design of future ocean color radiometers. Using measurements from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer onboard the Aqua satellite (MODISA) under various solar zenith angles (SZAs), typical (L_typical) and maximum (L_max) at-sensor radiances from the visible to the shortwave IR were determined. The L_typical values at an SZA of 45° were used as constraints to calculate SNRs of 10 multiband sensors at the same L_typical radiance input and 2 hyperspectral sensors at a similar radiance input. The calculations were based on clear-water scenes with an objective method of selecting pixels with minimal cross-pixel variations to assure target homogeneity. Among the widely used ocean color sensors that have routine global coverage, MODISA ocean bands (1?km) showed 2-4 times higher SNRs than the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) (1?km) and comparable SNRs to the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS)-RR (reduced resolution, 1.2?km), leading to different levels of precision in the retrieved Chl data product. MERIS-FR (full resolution, 300?m) showed SNRs lower than MODISA and MERIS-RR with the gain in spatial resolution. SNRs of all MODISA ocean bands and SeaWiFS bands (except the SeaWiFS near-IR bands) exceeded those from prelaunch sensor specifications after adjusting the input radiance to L_typical. The tabulated L_typical, L_max, and SNRs of the various multiband and hyperspectral sensors under the same or similar radiance input provide references to compare sensor performance in product precision and to help design future missions such as the Geostationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) mission and the Pre-Aerosol-Clouds-Ecosystems (PACE) mission currently being planned by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).     

Method for high-accuracy reflectance measurements in the 2.5-microm region

Reflectance measurement with spectroradiometers in the solar wavelength region (0.4-2.5 microm) are frequently conducted in the laboratory or in the field to characterize surface materials of artificial and natural targets. The spectral surface reflectance is calculated as the ratio of the signals obtained over the target surface and a reference panel, yielding a relative reflectance value. If the reflectance of the reference panel is known, the absolute target reflectance can be computed. This standard measurement technique assumes that the signal at the radiometer is due completely to reflected target and reference radiation. However, for field measurements in the 2.4-2.5-microm region with the Sun as the illumination source, the emitted thermal radiation is not a negligible part of the signal even at ambient temperatures, because the atmospheric transmittance, and thus the solar illumination level, is small in the atmospheric absorption regions. A new method is proposed that calculates reflectance values in the 2.4-2.5-microm region while it accounts for the reference panel reflectance and the emitted radiation. This technique needs instruments with noise-equivalent radiances of 2 orders of magnitude below currently commercially available instruments and requires measurement of the surface temperatures of target and reference. If the reference panel reflectance and temperature effects are neglected, the standard method yields reflectance errors up to 0.08 and 0.15 units for 7- and 2-nm bandwidth instruments, respectively. For the new method the corresponding errors can be reduced to approximately 0.01 units for the surface temperature range of 20-35 degrees C.     

Correction of satellite imagery over mountainous terrain

A method for the radiometric correction of satellite imagery over mountainous terrain has been developed to remove atmospheric and topographic effects. The algorithm accounts for horizontally varying atmospheric conditions and also includes the height dependence of the atmospheric radiance and transmittance functions to simulate the simplified properties of a three-dimensional atmosphere. A database has been compiled that contains the results of radiative transfer calculations (atmospheric transmittance, path radiance, direct and diffuse solar flux) for a wide range of weather conditions. A digital elevation model is used to obtain information about surface elevation, slope, and orientation. Based on the Lambertian assumption the surface reflectance in rugged terrain is calculated for the specified atmospheric conditions. Regions with extreme illumination geometries sensitive to BRDF effects can be optionally processed separately. The method is restricted to high spatial resolution satellite sensors with a small swath angle such as the Landsat thematic mapper and Systeme pour l'Observation de la Terre high resolution visible, since some simplifying assumptions were made to reduce the required image processing time.     

Infrared radiance and solar glint at the ocean-sky horizon

An analytic model is developed for the mean and clutter infrared radiance emitted from the ocean surface near the horizon and in the presence of solar glint. The model is based on the identification of a characteristic facet dimension over which the ocean surface is essentially flat. Fluctuations in the facet orientation generated by the water wave motion are modeled by a parameterized wave height power spectral density that provides the two orthogonal wave slope variances. The mean and root-meansquare facet radiances are calculated with Gaussian probability-density functions for the wave slopes. One can determine the number of facets within the field of view of a single detector by estimating the exposed ocean area and dividing by the facet area. This estimation takes into account shadowing effects of the swell wave, the swell wavelength, and the transverse detector field of view. The number of exposed facets together with the central-limit theorem permits computation of the radiance clutter as a function of look-down angle below the horizon. Vertical radiance profiles, parameterized by the azimuthal offset from the solar position, are calculated over a sensor look-down angle range of ±50 mrad about the horizon. The results of this analysis are compared with infrared radiance measurements of the ocean surface near the horizon and in the presence of solar glint. Agreement between the measured and calculated values of the mean and clutter radiances is good.