Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Atmospheric correction”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 289 records · Page 16

Optimization of the information content of multitemporal Landsat TM data sets for monitoring forest cover disturbance

Procedures that were developed to optimize the information content of multitemporal thematic mapper (TM) data sets for forest cover disturbance monitoring in Minnesota are described. TM imagery from three different years was calibrated to exoatmospheric reflectance. An atmospheric correction routine was applied combining two major components, atmospheric normalization over time and transformation to ground reflectance. Atmospheric conditions were modeled over time using regression functions derived from five ground features known to be unchanged over the time interval of interest and spanning the entire image reflectance range. The correlation between digital data and the forest cover was subsequently maximized and irrelevant information content was reduced by converting the band-specific reflectances into seven vegetation indices that were assumed to carry unique information. The application of two change detection algorithms to these seven indices ultimately resulted in 14 change features for each time interval of interest. Results show that the preprocessing sequence is vital to forest cover monitoring methodology.

Coppin, Pol R.↗

New Measurements of Aerosol Vertical Structure from Space using the NASA Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS): Applications for Aerosol Transport Models

In the past, satellite measurements of aerosols have only been possible using passive sensors. Analysis of passive satellite data has lead to an improved understanding of aerosol properties, spatial distribution, and their effect on the earth,s climate. However, direct measurement of aerosol vertical distribution has not been possible using only the passive data. Knowledge of aerosol vertical distribution is important to correctly assess the impact of aerosol absorption, for certain atmospheric correction procedures, and to help constrain height profiles in aerosol transport models. On January 12,2003 NASA launched the first satellite-based lidar, the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS), onboard the ICESat spacecraft. GLAS is both an altimeter and an atmospheric lidar, and obtains direct measurements of aerosol and cloud heights. Here we show an overview of GLAS, provide an update of its current status, and discuss how GLAS data will be useful for modeling efforts. In particular, a strategy of using GLAS to characterize the height profile of dust plumes over source regions will be presented, along with initial results. Such information can be used to validate and improve output from aerosol transport models. Aerosol height profile comparisons between GLAS and transport models will be shown for regions downwind of aerosol sources. We will also discuss the feasibility of assimilating GLAS profiles into the models in order to improve their output.

Welton, E. J.↗

New Measurements of Aerosol Vertical Structure from Space Using the NASA Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS): Applications for Aerosol Transport Models

In the past, satellite measurements of aerosols have only been possible using passive sensors. Analysis of passive satellite data has lead to an improved understanding of aerosol properties, spatial distribution, and their effect on the earth s climate. However, direct measurement of aerosol vertical distribution has not been possible using only the passive data. Knowledge of aerosol vertical distribution is important to correctly assess the impact of aerosol absorption, for certain atmospheric correction procedures, and to help constrain height profiles in aerosol transport models. On January 12,2003 NASA launched the first satellite-based lidar, the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS), onboard the ICESat spacecraft. GLAS is both an altimeter and an atmospheric lidar, and obtains direct measurements of aerosol and cloud heights. Here we show an overview of GLAS, provide an update of its current status, and discuss how GUS data will be useful for modeling efforts. In particular, a strategy of using GLAS to characterize the height profile of dust plumes over source regions will be presented, along with initial results. Such information can be used to validate and improve output from aerosol transport models. Aerosol height profile comparisons between GLAS and transport models will be shown for regions downwind of aerosol sources. We will also discuss the feasibility of assimilating GLAS profiles into the models in order to improve their output,

Welton, Ellsworth J.↗

GeoNEX-ML: A Machine Learning System for Geostationary Satellite Imagery

Improved capabilities of earth monitoring satellites are enabling a wide range of studies on the environmental effects of climate change, often leveraging the recent advancements in machine learning. At the same time, the new capabilities, including higher spatial resolution and temporal frequency, are expanding the amount of data generated at exponential rates. Further, a large majority of archived datasets generated by scientific processing is never used. This motivates the development of an efficient machine learning system for end-to-end processing of multi-level satellite datasets, from level 1 top of atmosphere observations to user friendly environmental variables of interest. Using current generation geostationary satellites GOES-16/17 (NOAA/NASA), Himawari-8/9 (JAXA), and GK-2A (Korea), we present an interchangeable set of machine models to perform spectral adjustment, physical model emulation, LEO-GEO emulation, and optical flow in a high performance computing environment. We use these tools to generate consistent virtual observations across sensors, perform atmospheric correction and cloud detection, and estimate land surface temperature and atmospheric winds. This approach aims to improve the robustness of remotely sensed data processing by learning from diverse sets of observations while enabling near real-time and on-demand capabilities.

Geostationary satellites↗

GeoNEX-ML: A Machine Learning System for Earth Observations

Improved capabilities of earth monitoring satellites are enabling a wide range of studies on the environmental effects of climate change, often leveraging the recent advancements in machine learning. At the same time, the new capabilities, including higher spatial resolution and temporal frequency, are expanding the amount of data generated at exponential rates. At the NASA Earth eXchange (NEX), we build deep learning methods to learn from cross sensor satellite-based Earth observations for generating new datasets with efficient processing techniques. Using current generation geostationary satellites on NEX, we present an interchangeable set of machine models to perform spectral adjustment, physical model emulation, LEO-GEO emulation, and optical flow. These tools are used to generate consistent virtual observations across sensors, perform atmospheric correction and cloud detection, and estimate land surface temperature and atmospheric winds. This approach aims to improve the robustness of remotely sensed data processing by learning from diverse sets of observations while enabling near real-time and on-demand capabilities.

Geostationary↗

Atmospheric winds with deep optical flow

Improved capabilities of earth monitoring satellites are enabling a wide range of studies on the environmental effects of climate change, often leveraging the recent advancements in machine learning. At the same time, the new capabilities, including higher spatial resolution and temporal frequency, are expanding the amount of data generated at exponential rates. At the NASA Earth eXchange (NEX), we build deep learning methods to learn from cross sensor satellite-based Earth observations for generating new datasets with efficient processing techniques. Using current generation geostationary satellites on NEX, we present an interchangeable set of machine models to perform spectral adjustment, physical model emulation, LEO-GEO emulation, and optical flow. These tools are used to generate consistent virtual observations across sensors, perform atmospheric correction and cloud detection, and estimate land surface temperature and atmospheric winds. This approach aims to improve the robustness of remotely sensed data processing by learning from diverse sets of observations while enabling near real-time and on-demand capabilities.

Atmospheric winds↗

Deep Learning System for Efficient Processing of Geostationary Satellite Imagery

Improved capabilities of Earth monitoring satellites are enabling a wide range of studies on the environmental effects of climate change, often leveraging the recent advancements in machine learning. At the same time, the new capabilities, including higher spatial resolution and temporal frequency, are expanding the amount of data generated at exponential rates. Further, a large majority of archived datasets generated by scientific processing is never used. This motivates the development of an efficient machine learning system for end-to-end processing of multi-level satellite datasets, from level 1 top of atmosphere observations to user friendly environmental variables of interest. Using current generation geostationary satellites GOES-16/17 (NOAA/NASA), and Himawari-8/9 (JAXA), we present an interchangeable set of machine models to perform spectral adjustment among sensors, physical model emulation, LEO-GEO emulation, and optical flow in a high performance computing environment. We use these tools on the NASA Earth eXchange (NEX) to generate consistent virtual observations across sensors, perform atmospheric correction and cloud detection, and estimate surface reflectance, surface temperature and atmospheric winds. This approach aims to improve the robustness of remotely sensed data processing by learning from diverse sets of observations while enabling near real-time and on-demand capabilities.

Thomas Vandal↗

Estimation of ground temperature from GFCR radiometric signal

A procedure was developed which demonstrates the feasibility of estimating actual surface temperature from the effective brightness temperature which can be conveniently measured by a radiometer from remote sensing platforms. Atmospheric corrections to the effective brightness temperature are computed corresponding to the 'base model' atmosphere and several modifications of this caused by deviations of the various atmospheric or surface parameters from their base model values. Simple analytical relations were established between the deviations of these parameters and the additional temperature corrections required to compensate for them. Effects of simultaneous variation of several parameters also were examined. Use of these analytical relations, instead of radiative transfer calculations, results in tremendous savings in data reduction costs.

Gupia, S. K.↗

Analysis of A Severe Dust Storm and Its Impact on Air Quality Conditions Using Wrf-Chem Modeling, Satellite Imagery, and Ground Observations

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of an extreme dust event recorded in the Arabian Peninsula and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between 31 March and 3 April 2015. Simulations of the dust event with the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with the Chemistry module (WRF-Chem) were analyzed and verified using MSG-SEVIRI imagery and aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the recent 1-km Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction (MAIAC) algorithm for MODIS Terra/Aqua. Data from the National Centers for Atmospheric Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) and the upper-air radiosonde observations were used to understand the synoptic of the event. In addition, the impact of the event on atmospheric and air quality conditions is investigated. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was calculated prior, during, and after the event to assess the degradation of air quality conditions. Simulated temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and surface radiation were compared to observations at six monitoring stations in the UAE giving R2 values of 0.84, 0.63, 0.60, and 0.84, respectively. From 1 to 2 April 2015, both observations and simulations showed an average drop in temperature from 33 to 26 °C and radiance reduction from about 950 to 520 Wm−2. The AOD modeled by WRF-Chem showed a good correlation with Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) measurements in the UAE with R2 of 0.83. The AQI over the UAE reached hazardous levels during the peak of the dust event before rapidly decreasing to moderate–good air quality levels. This work is the first attempt to demonstrate the potential of using WRF-Chem to estimate AQI over the UAE along with two satellite products (MODIS-MAIAC and MSG-SEVIRI) for dust detection and tracking.

dust storm↗

Removal of Thin Cirrus Path Radiances in the 0.4-1.0 micron Spectral Region Using the 1.375-micron Strong Water Vapor Absorption Channel

Through analysis of spectral imaging data acquired with the Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) from an ER-2 aircraft at 20 km altitude during several field programs, it was found that narrow channels near the center of the strong 1.38-micron water vapor band are very sensitive in detecting thin cirrus clouds. Based on this observation from AVIRIS data, a channel centered at 1.375 microns with a width of 30 nm was selected for the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) for remote sensing of cirrus clouds from space. The sensitivity of the 1.375-micron MODIS channel to detect thin cirrus clouds during the day time is expected to be one to two orders of magnitude better than the current infrared emission techniques. As a result, a larger fraction of the satellite data will likely be identified as containing cirrus clouds. In order to make better studies of surface reflectance properties, thin cirrus effects must be removed from satellite images. We have developed an empirical approach for removing/correcting thin cirrus effects in the 0.4 - 1.0 micron region using channels near 1.375 microns. This algorithm will be incorporated into the present MODIS atmospheric correction algorithms for ocean color and land applications and will yield improved MODIS atmospheric aerosol, land surface, and ocean color products.

Gao, Bo-Cai↗

A comparison of HCMM surface temperatures with in situ temperature data

Algorithms were updated for a quicker analysis of computer compatible tapes in an effort to establish the absolute and relative accuracy of HCMM infrared data. Data for four case studies were identified and extracted from the tapes. These studies include three dates for the Nantucket Shoals region and one date for the Gulf of Mexico region. Upper air meteorological data, which are needed to make atmospheric correction of the HCMM data, are being reduced and prepared for calculation of the atmospheric effect.

Source record↗

Analysis of AIS radiometry at Mono Lake, California

Airborne imaging spectrometer (AIS) data were studied to establish absolute instrumental calibration and to provide atmospheric corrections. Good agreement is found between calculated and measured radiances for uniform surface targets (beaches), but simulations of atmospheric properties with LOWTRAN lead to unreasonably low values of atmospheric precipitable water. Absorptions from CO2 are not detected in the AIS data, but are strongly present in the LOWTRAN model. The apparent low contrast of all atmospheric absorption bands leads to a study of contamination from overlapping spectral orders in the AIS data. The suspected contamination is shown unambiguously to be present beyond 1500 nm. The magnitude remains uncertain. Spectral band filling at 1400 nm cannot be accounted for by order mixing because of the 800 nm blocking filter used. Rough corrections for short wavelength mode observations might be possible if an after-the-fact radiometric calibration of the instrument can be developed.

Conel, J. E.↗

Using EO-1 Hyperion to Simulate HyspIRI Products for a Coniferous Forest: The Fraction of PAR Absorbed by Chlorophyll (fAPAR(sub chl)) and Leaf Water Content(LWC)

This paper presents development of prototype products for terrestrial ecosystems in preparation for the future imaging spectrometer planned for the Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (HyspIRI) mission. We present a successful demonstration example in a coniferous forest of two product prototypes: fraction of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) absorbed by chlorophyll of a canopy (fAPARchl) and leaf water content (LWC), for future HyspIRI implementation at 60-m spatial resolution. For this, we used existing 30-m resolution imaging spectrometer data available from the Earth Observing One (EO-1) Hyperion satellite to simulate and prototype the level one radiometrically corrected radiance (L1R) images expected from the HyspIRI visible through shortwave infrared spectrometer. The HyspIRIlike images were atmospherically corrected to obtain surface reflectance and spectrally resampled to produce 60-m reflectance images for wavelength regions that were comparable to all seven of the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land bands. Thus, we developed MODIS-like surface reflectance in seven spectral bands at the HyspIRI-like spatial scale, which was utilized to derive fAPARchl and LWC with a coupled canopy-leaf radiative transfer model (PROSAIL2) for the coniferous forest. With this paper, we provide additional evidence that the fAPARchl product is more realistic in describing the physiologically active canopy than the traditional fAPAR parameter for the whole canopy (fAPARcanopy), and thus, it should replace it in ecosystem process models to reduce uncertainties in terrestrial carbon cycle and ecosystem studies.

Earth Observing One↗

Comparison of Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and Earth Observing One (EO-1) Advanced Land Imager

We compare images from the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) sensor on Landsat-7 and the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) instrument on Earth Observing One (EO-1) over a test site in Rochester, New York. The site contains a variety of features, ranging from water of varying depths, deciduous/coniferous forest, and grass fields, to urban areas. Nearly coincident cloud-free images were collected one minute apart on 25 August 2001. We also compare images of a forest site near Howland, Maine, that were collected on 7 September, 2001. We atmospherically corrected each pair of images with the Second Simulation of the Satellite Signal in the Solar Spectrum (6S) atmosphere model, using aerosol optical thickness and water vapor column density measured by in situ Cimel sun photometers within the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET), along with ozone density derived from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) on the Earth Probe satellite. We present true-color composites from each instrument that show excellent qualitative agreement between the multispectral sensors, along with grey-scale images that demonstrate a significantly improved ALI panchromatic band. We quantitatively compare ALI and ETM+ reflectance spectra of a grassy field in Rochester and find < or equal to 6% differences in the visible/near infrared and approx. 2% differences in the short wave infrared. Spectral comparisons of forest sites in Rochester and Howland yield similar percentage agreement except for band 1, which has very low reflectance. Principal component analyses and comparison of normalized difference vegetation index histograms for each sensor indicate that the ALI is able to reproduce the information content in the ETM+ but with superior signal-to-noise performance due to its increased 12-bit quantization.

Pedelty, Jeffrey A.↗

PACE: How One NASA Mission Aligns With the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (Ocean Shot #2)

The PACE satellite observatory will follow a Sun synchronous, polar orbit at an altitude of 676.5 km with a local 13:00 Equatorial crossing time. Its payload consists of three instruments, a primary hyperspectral imaging radiometer being built at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and two multispectral, multiangle polarimeters, the combination of which advances far beyond heritage capabilities. The Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) offers one-day global coverage with a ground sample distance of 1 km2 at nadir. As described in this OceanShot, this leap in technology will enable improved understanding of aquatic ecosystems and biogeochemistry, as well as provide new information on phytoplankton community composition and improved detection of algal blooms. OCI will be complemented by two small multi-angle polarimeters with spectral ranges that span the visible to near infrared spectral region. When sunlight interacts with clouds or aerosols, it comes away from that interaction changed. By measuring changes in how reflected light oscillates within a geometric plane (i.e., its viewing angle-specific polarization), we can infer useful properties of the clouds or aerosols. This information is crucial to deciphering the way sunlight is reflected and absorbed by our planet and how aerosols affect cloud formation. The polarimeters include the Spectro-polarimeter for Planetary Exploration (SPEXone) and the Hyper Angular Research Polarimeter (HARP2), both of which will significantly improve aerosol and cloud characterizations and provide opportunities for novel ocean color atmospheric correction. (Figure 3). These instruments offer complementary capabilities: SPEXone is hyperspectral, multiangular, and narrow swath to support advanced atmospheric aerosol characterizations, whereas HARP2 is multispectral, hyper-angular, and wide swath to advance cloud property retrievals. In total, the combined PACE instrument suite will revolutionize studies of global biogeochemistry, carbon cycles, and air–sea exchanges in the ocean–atmosphere system.

Ocean color↗

AIS radiometry and the problem of contamination from mixed spectral orders

The spectral radiance of test areas under solar illumination is ascertained in view of Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (AIS) data from Mono Lake, CA, establishing an atmospheric correction method for major absorbers on the basis of the spectrometric data themselves. The apparent low contrast of all atmospheric absorption bands leads to a study of contamination from overlapping spectral orders in the AIS data; this contamination is found unambiguously above 1500 nm with a magnitude that is a factor of 1.5-2.0 greater than the expected uncontaminated signal alone.

Conel, J. E.↗

Using EO-1 Hyperion to Simulate HyspIRI Products for a Coniferous Forest: The Fraction of PAR Absorbed by Chlorophyll (fAPAR(sub chl)) and Leaf Water Content (LWC)

This study presents development of prototype products for terrestrial ecosystems in preparation for the future imaging spectrometer planned for the Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (HyspIRI) mission. We present a successful demonstration example in a coniferous forest of two product prototypes: fraction of photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) absorbed by chlorophyll of a canopy (fAPAR(sub chl)) and leaf water content (LWC), for future HyspIRI implementation at 60 m spatial resolution. For this, we used existing 30 m resolution imaging spectrometer data available from the Earth Observing One (EO-1) Hyperion satellite to simulate and prototype the level one radiometrically corrected radiance (L1R) images expected from the HyspIRI visible through shortwave infrared spectrometer. The HyspIRI-like images were atmospherically corrected to obtain surface reflectance, and spectrally resampled to produce 60 m reflectance images for wavelength regions that were comparable to all seven of the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land bands. Thus, we developed MODIS-like surface reflectance in seven spectral bands at the HyspIRI-like spatial scale, which was utilized to derive fAPARchl and LWC with a coupled canopy-leaf radiative transfer model (PROSAIL2) for the coniferous forest[1]. With this study, we provide additional evidence that the fAPARchl product is more realistic for describing the physiologically active canopy than the traditional fAPAR parameter for the whole canopy (fAPAR(sub canopy)), and thus should replace it in ecosystem process models to reduce uncertainties in terrestrial carbon cycle studies and ecosystem studies.

Zhang, Qingyuan↗