Title
MISR Aerosol Product Attributes and Statistical Comparisons With MODIS
Abstract
In this paper, Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) aerosol product attributes are described, including geometry and algorithm performance flags. Actual retrieval coverage is mapped and explained in detail using representative global monthly data. Statistical comparisons are made with coincident aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Angstrom exponent (ANG) retrieval results from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument. The relationship between these results and the ones previously obtained for MISR and MODIS individually, based on comparisons with coincident ground-truth observations, is established. For the data examined, MISR and MODIS each obtain successful aerosol retrievals about 15% of the time, and coincident MISR-MODIS aerosol retrievals are obtained for about 6%-7% of the total overlap region. Cloud avoidance, glint and oblique-Sun exclusions, and other algorithm physical limitations account for these results. For both MISR and MODIS, successful retrievals are obtained for over 75% of locations where attempts are made. Where coincident AOD retrievals are obtained over ocean, the MISR-MODIS correlation coefficient is about 0.9; over land, the correlation coefficient is about 0.7. Differences are traced to specific known algorithm issues or conditions. Over-ocean ANG comparisons yield a correlation of 0.67, showing consistency in distinguishing aerosol air masses dominated by coarse-mode versus fine-mode particles. Sampling considerations imply that care must be taken when assessing monthly global aerosol direct radiative forcing and AOD trends with these products, but they can be used directly for many other applications, such as regional AOD gradient and aerosol air mass type mapping and aerosol transport model validation. Users are urged to take seriously the published product data-quality statements.
Year
DOI
Venue
2009
10.1109/TGRS.2009.2023115
Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions
Keywords
Field
DocType
aerosols,atmospheric radiation,remote sensing,statistical analysis,Angstrom exponent,MISR aerosol product attributes,MODIS instrument,Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro- radiometer,Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer,aerosol air mass type mapping,aerosol optical depth retrieval,aerosol particles,aerosol transport model validation,cloud avoidance,global aerosol direct radiative forcing,oblique-Sun exclusions,over-ocean ANG comparison,statistical comparisons,total overlap region,Aerosols,Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS),Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR),remote sensing
Meteorology,Correlation coefficient,Air mass,Moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer,Optical depth,Aerosol,Remote sensing,Angstrom exponent,Spectroradiometer,Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer,Mathematics
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
47
12
0196-2892
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
3
0.54
3
Authors
10
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Ralph Kahn114254.29
David L. Nelson2169.89
Michael J. Garay3138.54
Robert C. Levy4307.47
Michael A. Bull5143.08
David J. Diner620994.76
John V. Martonchik721494.98
Susan R. Paradise830.54
Earl G. Hansen991.43
Lorraine A. Remer1016248.02