Radiometric calibration of SeaWiFS in the near infrared

The radiometric calibration of the Sea-Viewing Wide-Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) in the near infrared (band 8, centered on 865 nm) is evaluated by use of ground-based radiometer measurements of solar extinction and sky radiance in the Sun's principal plane at two sites, one located 13 km off Venice, Italy, and the other on the west coast of Lanai Island, Hawaii. The aerosol optical thickness determined from solar extinction is used in an iterative scheme to retrieve the pseudo aerosol phase function, i.e., the product of single-scattering albedo and phase function, in which sky radiance is corrected for multiple scattering effects. No assumption about the aerosol model is required. The aerosol parameters are the inputs into a radiation-transfer code used to compute the SeaWiFS radiance. The calibration method has a theoretical inaccuracy of plus or minus 2.0-3.6%, depending on the solar zenith angle and the SeaWiFS geometry. The major source of error is in the calibration of the ground-based radiometer operated in radiance mode, assumed to be accurate to +/- 2%. The establishment of strict criteria for atmospheric stability, angular geometry, and surface conditions resulted in selection of only 26 days for the analysis during 1999-2000 (Venice site) and 1998-2001 (Lanai site). For these days the measured level-1B radiance from the SeaWiFS Project Office was generally lower than the corresponding simulated radiance in band 8 by 7.0% on average, +/- 2.8%.     

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.     

Use of a Spectralon panel to measure the downwelling irradiance signal: case studies and recommendations

Field determinations of the remote sensing reflectance signal are necessary to validate ocean color satellite sensors. The measurement of the above-water downwelling irradiance signal Ed(0+) is commonly made with a reference plaque of a known reflectance. The radiance reflected by the plaque (L(dspec)) can be used to determine Ed(0+) if the plaque is assumed to be near Lambertian. To test this assumption, basic experiments were conducted on a boat under changing sky conditions (clear, cloudy, covered) and with different configurations for simultaneous measurements of L(dspec) and Ed(0+). For all measurement configurations, results were satisfactory under a clear sky. Under cloudy or covered skies, shadow effects on the plaque induced errors up to 100% in the determination of Ed(0+). An appropriate measurement configuration was defined, which enabled Ed(0+) to be determined with an accuracy of better than +/- 15% regardless of the sky conditions.     

Charge-coupled device spectrograph for direct solar irradiance and sky radiance measurements

The characterization of a charged-coupled device (CCD) spectrograph developed at the Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, Thessaloniki is presented. The absolute sensitivity of the instrument for direct irradiance and sky radiance measurements was determined, respectively, with an uncertainty of 4.4% and 6.6% in the UV-B, and 3% and 6% in the UV-A, visible and near-infrared (NIR) wavelength ranges. The overall uncertainty associated with the direct irradiance and the sky radiance measurements is, respectively, of the order of 5% and 7% in the UV-B, increasing to 10% for low signals [e.g., at solar zenith angles (SZAs) larger than 70 degrees ], and 4% and 6% in the UV-A, visible, and NIR. Direct solar spectral irradiance measurements from an independently calibrated spectroradiometer (Bentham DTM 300) were compared with the corresponding CCD measurements. Their agreement in the wavelength range of 310-500nm is within 0.5% +/- 1.1% (for SZA between 20 degrees and 70 degrees ). Aerosol optical depth (AOD) derived by the two instruments using direct Sun spectra and by a collocated Cimel sunphotometer [Aerosol Robotic network (AERONET)] agree to within 0.02 +/- 0.02 in the range of 315-870 nm. Significant correlation coefficients with a maximum of 0.99 in the range of 340-360 nm and a minimum of 0.90 at 870 nm were found between synchronous AOD measurements with the Bentham and the Cimel instruments.     

Surface temperature correction for active infrared reflectance measurements of natural materials

Land surface temperature algorithms for the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer satellite instrument will require the spectral bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) of natural surfaces in the thermal infrared. We designed the spectral infrared bidirectional reflectance and emissivity instrument to provide such measurements by the use of a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. A problem we encountered is the unavoidable surface heating caused by the source irradiance. For our system, the effects of the heating can cause a 30% error in the measured BRDF The error caused by heating is corrected by temporally curve fitting the radiance signal. This curve-fitting technique isolates the radiance caused by reflected irradiance. With this correction, other factors dominate the BRDF error. It is now ~5% and can be improved further. The method is illustrated with measurements of soil BRDF.     

Effect of topography on average surface albedo in the ultraviolet wavelength range

The reflectivity of the 22 km x 24 km region surrounding Sonnblick Observatory near Salzburg, Austria (3104-m altitude, 47.05 degrees N, 12.95 degrees E), was calculated with a three-dimensional albedo model. The average albedo of the region was calculated at 305 and 380 nm for different solar zenith angles, ground reflectances, and solar azimuth angles. To determine geometrical effects, we first carried out the simulations without taking account of the effects of the atmosphere. The ratio to the reflectivity of a corresponding flat surface area (area with the same ground characteristics) was always less than 1 and showed a decrease with increasing solar zenith angle and with diminishing ground reflectance. Even when the ground reflectance was 100%, the average albedo was less than 1. The effect of the atmosphere was then taken into consideration in these calculations and was found to diminish the reflected components. This diminishing effect was compensated for, however, by the scattered irradiance. Finally, simulations of real conditions (nonhomogeneous ground reflectivities) were performed for different snow lines in the Sonnblick region. The average albedos obtained when all the surroundings were covered with snow were 0.32-0.63 with low solar zenith angles and 0.38-0.77 with a 40 degrees solar zenith angle.     

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.     

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.     

Detailed analytical approach to the Gaussian surface bidirectional reflectance distribution function specular component applied to the sea surface

A statistical sea surface specular BRDF (bidirectional reflectance distribution function) model is developed that includes mutual shadowing by waves, wave facet hiding, and projection weighting. The integral form of the model is reduced to an analytical form by making minor and justifiable approximations. The new form of the BRDF thus allows one to compute sea reflected radiance more than 100 times faster than the traditional numerical solutions. The repercussions of the approximations used in the model are discussed. Using the analytical form of the BRDF, an analytical approximation is also obtained for the reflected sun radiance that is always good to within 1% of the numerical solution for sun elevations of more than 10 degrees above the horizon. The model is validated against measured sea radiances found in the literature and is shown to be in very good agreement.     

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.     

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 of cosine error in irradiance measurements from field ocean color radiometers

The cosine error of in situ seven-channel radiometers designed to measure the in-air downward irradiance for ocean color applications was investigated in the 412-683 nm spectral range with a sample of three instruments. The interchannel variability of cosine errors showed values generally lower than +/-3% below 50 degrees incidence angle with extreme values of approximately 4-20% (absolute) at 50-80 degrees for the channels at 412 and 443 nm. The intrachannel variability, estimated from the standard deviation of the cosine errors of different sensors for each center wavelength, displayed values generally lower than 2% for incidence angles up to 50 degrees and occasionally increasing up to 6% at 80 degrees. Simulations of total downward irradiance measurements, accounting for average angular responses of the investigated radiometers, were made with an accurate radiative transfer code. The estimated errors showed a significant dependence on wavelength, sun zenith, and aerosol optical thickness. For a clear sky maritime atmosphere, these errors displayed values spectrally varying and generally within +/-3%, with extreme values of approximately 4-10% (absolute) at 40-80 degrees sun zenith for the channels at 412 and 443 nm. Schemes for minimizing the cosine errors have also been proposed and discussed.     

Ground reflectance measurement techniques: a comparison

The relative accuracies of reflectance factor measurement methods involving the simultaneous, as compared to the sequential, measurement of irradiance on and radiance reflected from the target are discussed. Data are presented to support a statistical demonstration that the simultaneous measurement technique is the more accurate.     

SIMBAD: a field radiometer for satellite ocean-color validation

A hand-held radiometer, called SIMBAD, has been designed and built specifically for evaluating satellite-derived ocean color. It provides information on the basic ocean-color variables, namely aerosol optical thickness and marine reflectance, in five spectral bands centered at 443, 490, 560, 670, and 870 nm. Aerosol optical thickness is obtained by viewing the Sun disk and measuring the direct atmospheric transmittance. Marine reflectance is obtained by viewing the ocean surface and measuring the upwelling radiance through a vertical polarizer in a geometry that minimizes glitter and reflected sky radiation, i.e., at 45 degrees from nadir (near the Brewster angle) and at 135 degrees in azimuth from the Sun's principal plane. Relative inaccuracy on marine reflectance, established theoretically, is approximately 6% at 443 and 490 nm, 8% at 560 nm, and 23% at 670 nm for case 1 waters containing 0.1 mg m(-3) of chlorophyll a. Measurements by SIMBAD and other instruments during the Second Aerosol Characterization Experiment, the Aerosols-99 Experiment, and the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations cruises agree within uncertainties. The radiometer is compact, light, and easy to operate at sea. The measurement protocol is simple, allowing en route measurements from ships of opportunity (research vessels and merchant ships) traveling the world's oceans.     

On the relationship between radiance and irradiance: determining the illumination from images of a convex Lambertian object

We present a theoretical analysis of the relationship between incoming radiance and irradiance. Specifically, we address the question of whether it is possible to compute the incident radiance from knowledge of the irradiance at all surface orientations. This is a fundamental question in computer vision and inverse radiative transfer. We show that the irradiance can be viewed as a simple convolution of the incident illumination, i.e., radiance and a clamped cosine transfer function. Estimating the radiance can then be seen as a deconvolution operation. We derive a simple closed-form formula for the irradiance in terms of spherical harmonic coefficients of the incident illumination and demonstrate that the odd-order modes of the lighting with order greater than 1 are completely annihilated. Therefore these components cannot be estimated from the irradiance, contradicting a theorem that is due to Preisendorfer. A practical realization of the radiance-from-irradiance problem is the estimation of the lighting from images of a homogeneous convex curved Lambertian surface of known geometry under distant illumination, since a Lambertian object reflects light equally in all directions proportional to the irradiance. We briefly discuss practical and physical considerations and describe a simple experimental test to verify our theoretical results.     

Measured and modeled radiometric quantities in coastal waters: toward a closure

Accurate radiative transfer modeling in the coupled atmosphere-sea system is increasing in importance for the development of advanced remote-sensing applications. Aiming to quantify the uncertainties in the modeling of coastal water radiometric quantities, we performed a closure experiment to intercompare theoretical and experimental data as a function of wavelength lambda and water depth z. Specifically, the study focused on above-water downward irradiance E(d)(lambda, 0+) and in-water spectral profiles of upward nadir radiance L(u)(lambda, z), upward irradiance E(u)(lambda, z), downward irradiance E(d)(lambda, z), the E(u)(lambda, z)/L(u)(lambda, z) ratio (the nadir Q factor), and the E(u)(lambda, z)/E(d)(lambda, z) ratio (the irradiance reflectance). The theoretical data were produced with the finite-element method radiative transfer code ingesting in situ atmospheric and marine inherent optical properties. The experimental data were taken from a comprehensive coastal shallow-water data set collected in the northern Adriatic Sea. Under various measurement conditions, differences between theoretical and experimental data for the above-water E(d)(lambda, 0+) and subsurface E(d)(lambda, 0-) as well as for the in-water profiles of the nadir Q factor were generally less than 15%. In contrast, the in-water profiles of L(u)(lambda, z), E(d)(lambda, z), E(u)(lambda, z) and of the irradiance reflectance exhibited larger differences [to approximately 60% for L(u)(lambda, z) and E(u)(lambda, z), 30% for E(d)(lambda, z), and 50% for the irradiance reflectance]. These differences showed a high sensitivity to experimental uncertainties in a few input quantities used for the simulations: the seawater absorption coefficient; the hydrosol phase function backscattering probability; and, mainly for clear water, the bottom reflectance.     

Effects of ocean surface reflectance variation with solar elevation on normalized water-leaving radiance

Effects of the ocean surface reflection for solar irradiance on the normalized water-leaving radiance in the visible wavelengths are evaluated and discussed for various conditions of the atmosphere, solar-zenith angles, and wind speeds. The surface reflection effects on water-leaving radiance are simply due to the fact that the radiance that is backscattered out of the water is directly proportional to the downward solar irradiance just beneath the ocean surface. The larger the solar-zenith angle, the less the downward solar irradiance just beneath the ocean surface (i.e., more photons are reflected by the ocean surface), leading to a reduced value of the radiance that is backscattered out of the ocean. For cases of large solar-zenith angles, the effects of surface irradiance reflection need to be accounted for in both the satellite-derived and in situ measured water-leaving radiances.     

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.     

Retrieval and monitoring of aerosol optical thickness over an urban area by spaceborne and ground-based remote sensing

We used an instrumental synergy of both ground-based (sunphotometer) and spaceborne [POLDER (polarization and directionality of the Earth's reflectances) and Meteosat] passive remote-sensing devices to determine the aerosol optical thickness over the suburban area of Thessaloniki, Greece, from April 1996 to June 1997. The POLDER spaceborne instrument measures the degree of polarization of the solar radiance reflected by the Earth-atmosphere system. Aerosol optical thickness (AOT) retrieval needs an accurate estimate of the contribution of the ground surface to the top of atmosphere's polarized radiance. We tested existing surface reflectance models and fitted their parameters to find the best model for the Thessaloniki area. The model was constrained and validated by use of independent data sets of coincident sunphotometer and POLDER measurements. The comparison indicated that the urban AOT over Thessaloniki was retrieved by the POLDER instrument with an accuracy of +/-0.05. From analysis of Meteosat data we found that approximately 40% of the days with high AOT (>0.18) are associated with African dust transport events, all observed in the period March-July. Excluding dust events, the 15-month AOT averages 0.12 +/- 0.04. During the 15-month period that the study was conducted, we observed aerosol pollution peaks with an AOT of >0.24 on 15 of the 164 days on which measurements were possible.     

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.