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At least 55 records · Page 3

Retrieval of Aerosol Properties from MODIS Terra, MODIS Aqua, and VIIRS SNPP: Calibration Focus

MODIS-DT Collection 6 - Aqua/Terra level 2, 3; entire record processed - "Trending" issues reduced - Still a 15% or 0.02 Terra vs Aqua offset. - Terra/Aqua convergence improved with C6+, but bias remains. - Other calibration efforts yield mixed results. VIIRS-­‐DT in development - VIIRS is similar, yet different then MODIS - With 50% wider swath, VIIRS has daily coverage - Ensures algorithm consistency with MODIS. - Currently: 20% NPP vs Aqua offset over ocean. - Only small bias (%) over land (2012-­‐2016) - Can VIIRS/MODIS create aerosol CDR? Calibration for MODIS - VIIRS continues to fundamentally important. It's not just Terra, or just Aqua, or just NPP-­‐VIIRS, I really want to push synergistic calibration.

VIIRS↗

Product of the SNPP VIIRS SD Screen Transmittance and the SD BRDF (RSB) From Both Yaw Maneuver and Regular On-Orbit Data

To assure data quality, the Earth-observing Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) regularly performs on-orbit radiometric calibrations of its 22 spectral bands. The primary calibration radiance source for the reflective solar bands (RSBs) is a sunlit solar diffuser (SD). During the calibration process, sunlight goes through a perforated plate (the SD screen) and then strikes the SD. The SD scattered sunlight is used for the calibration, with the spectral radiance proportional to the product of the SD screen transmittance and the SD bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF). The BRDF is decomposed to the product of its value at launch and a numerical factor quantifying its change since launch. Therefore, the RSB calibration requires accurate knowledge of the product of the SD screen transmittance and the BRDF (RSB; launch time). Previously, we calculated the product with yaw maneuver data and found that the product had improved accuracy over the prelaunch one. With both yaw maneuver and regular on orbit data, we were able to improve the accuracy of the SDSM screen transmittance and the product for the solar diffuser stability monitor SD view. In this study, we use both yaw maneuver and a small portion of regular on-orbit data to determine the product for the RSB SD view.

Lei, Ning↗

Impacts of the Angular Dependence of the Solar Diffuser BRDF Degradation Factor on the SNPP VIIRS Reflective Solar Band On-Orbit Radiometric Calibration

Using an onboard sunlit solar diffuser (SD) as the primary radiance source, the visible infrared imaging radiometer suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite regularly performs radiometric calibration of its reflective solar bands (RSBs). The SD bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) value decreases over time. A numerical degradation factor is used to quantify the degradation and is determined by an onboard SD stability monitor (SDSM), which observes the sun and the sunlit SD at almost the same time. We had shown previously that the BRDF degradation factor was angle-dependent. Consequently, due to that the SDSM and the RSB view the SD at very different angles relative to both the solar and the SD surface normal vectors, directly applying the BRDF degradation factor determined by the SDSM to the VIIRS RSB calibration can result in large systematic errors. We develop a phenomenological model to calculate the BRDF degradation factor for the RSB SD view from the degradation factor for the SDSM SD view. Using the yearly undulations observed in the VIIRS detector gains for the M1-M4 bands calculated with the SD BRDF degradation factor for the SDSM SD view and the difference between the VIIRS detector gains calculated from the SD and the lunar observations, we obtain the model parameter values and thus establish the relation between the BRDF degradation factors for the RSB and the SDSM SD view directions.

Lei, Ning↗

Products of the SNPP VIIRS SD Screen Transmittance and the SD BRDFs From Both Yaw Maneuver and Regular On-Orbit Data

To ensure data quality, the Earth-observing Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite regularly performs on-orbit radiometric calibration of its 22 spectral bands. The primary radiance source for the calibration of the VIIRS reflective solar bands (RSBs) is a sunlit onboard solar diffuser (SD).During the calibration process, sunlight goes through a perforated plate (the SD screen) and then strikes the SD. The sunlight, scattered off the SD of near-Lambertian property, is used for the calibration. Consequently, the spectral radiance of the scattered sunlight is proportional to the product of the SD screen transmittance and the SD bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) value at the observation direction. The BRDF value is decomposed to the product of its initial value at launch and a numerical degradation factor that quantifies the decrease from the initial value. The degradation factor is determined by an onboard SD stability monitor (SDSM). During the BRDF degradation factor determination process, the SDSM receives the SD scattered sunlight and the sunlight that goes through another perforated plate at almost the same time. The ratio of the signal strengths from the two observations is used to determine the BRDF degradation factor. Consequently, the RSB radiometric calibration requires the accurate knowledge of the product of the SD screen transmittance and the initial BRDF value as sensed by the RSB and the SDSM detectors. We use both yaw maneuver and a small portion of regular on-orbit data to determine the products.

Lei, Ning↗

On-Orbit Measurement of the Focal Length of the SNPP VIIRS Instrument

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument is a whiskbroom system with 22 spectral bands split between 16 moderate resolution bands (M-bands), five imagery resolution bands (I-bands) and a panchromatic day-night band. Latitude and Longitude geolocation data are generated for each pixel at the M-band, I-band and day-night band spatial resolutions based upon various instrument parameters including focal length. In this study we measure the focal length of the VIIRS instrument from on-orbit data. This is achieved by simulating VIIRS band I2 using Landsat 8 OLI band 5 utilizing the VIIRS instrument system point spread function (PSF) and geolocation data generated with varying values of focal length. The focal length value that produces the highest spatial correlation between the original and simulated VIIRS data is taken to be the measured instrument focal length.

Image analysis↗

SNPP VIIRS RSB on-orbit radiometric calibration algorithms Version 2.0 and the performances. Part I: The algorithms

The first VIIRS instrument is aboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite. The instrument has 14 reflective solar bands (RSBs) to passively collect photons reflected from the Earth surface in the design wavelengths from 412 to 2250 nm. The instrument uses a solar diffuser (SD) to radiometrically calibrate its RSBs. When lit by the Sun through an attenuation screen (the SD screen), the SD diffusely reflects off the incident sunlight to act as a radiance source for the calibration. An onboard solar diffuser stability monitor (SDSM) yields the on-orbit change of the SD bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) by comparing the signal strength from the SD with that from the Sun attenuated by another attenuation screen (the SDSM screen). Complications arise due to the discovery that the on-orbit change of the BRDF is angle dependent. Additionally, the SDSM does not cover the wavelengths for the short-wave infrared bands in the RSBs. Furthermore, satellite yaw maneuvers were performed in the early mission to yield data for refining the prelaunch SDSM screen relative effective transmittance and the relative product of the SD screen transmittance and the BRDF at the mission start. But the yaw maneuver data are coarse in the solar azimuth angles and thus are unable to yield accurate values between the measurement angles. Over the years of performing on-orbit radiometric calibration through the SD for the VIIRSRSBs, we have developed several highly effective calibration algorithms to address the issues mentioned above. This paper reviews these algorithms.

Ning Lei↗

Ten Years of VIIRS On-Orbit Geolocation Calibration and Performance

The first innovative Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor aboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite has been in operation for 10 years since its launch on 28 October 2011. The second VIIRS sensor aboard the first Join Polar Satellite System (JPSS-1) satellite has been in operation for 4 years since its launch on 18 November 2017, which became NOAA-20. Well-geolocated and radiometrically calibrated Level-1 sensor data records (SDRs) from VIIRS are crucial to numerical weather prediction (NWP) and Level-2+ environmental data record (EDR) algorithms and products. The high quality of Level-2+ EDRs is a requirement for the continuity of NASA Earth science data records (ESDRs) and climate data records (CDRs), one of the two objectives of the SNPP mission and one of the three elements in the JPSS mission objective. The other objective of the SNPP mission is risk reduction for the follow-on JPSS missions. This paper summarizes the on-orbit geolocation calibration and validation (Cal/Val) activities for both VIIRS sensors onboard SNPP and NOAA-20 in the past 10 years. These activities include nominal geolocation Cal/Val activities, risk reduction activities, and improvements for the on-orbit VIIRS sensor operations. After these activities, sub-pixel geolocation accuracy is achieved. Nadir equivalent geolocation uncertainty is generally within 75 m (1-σ), or 20% imagery band pixels, in either the along-scan or along-track direction for both SNPP and NOAA-20 VIIRS sensors. The worst 16-day measured geolocation errors (radial, 3-σ) are 280 m and 267 m, respectively, in the latest SNPP and NOAA-20 VIIRS data collections, which are better than the required accuracy of 375 m (radial, 3-σ). The risk reduction activities also improved VIIRS builds for JPSS-3 and JPSS-4 satellites, and provide lessons learned for other VIIRS-like sensor builds.

VIIRS↗

On-Orbit Performance of the NOAA-21 Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS)

The Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) instrument provides sounding measurements of Earth’s atmosphere to collect temperature and water vapor data for NOAA’s Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) program. ATMS is a total-power passive microwave radiometer with 22 channels spanning a frequency range from 22 to 183 GHz. A general description of the ATMS instrument is detailed in [1]. Three ATMS units are currently on-orbit. The Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) unit was launched in 2011 and the NOAA-20 (previously JPSS-1) unit was launch in 2017. Both SNPP and NOAA-20 ATMS units are currently operational and the data is used for numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. The NOAA-21 (formerly JPSS-2) ATMS unit was launched on November 10, 2022 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California [2]. The ATMS instrument began generating radiance data on November 21, 2022. At the time of this abstract NOAA-21 ATMS is currently completing on-orbit commissioning and checkout activities; it is expected that the commissioning activities will be complete by the IGARSS 2023 conference. This paper will focus on the on-orbit performance of the NOAA-21 ATMS instrument based on measurements and activities from the commissioning period. Comparisons will be made to specifications and to expected performance based on pre-launch test activities. Pre-launch JPSS-2 (NOAA-21) ATMS performance is detailed in [4]. Additionally, the NOAA-21 performance will be compared to the on-orbit performance of the SNPP and NOAA-21 ATMS units. The post-launch performance of SNPP ATMS is detailed in [1][5][6][7]. The post-launch performance of NOAA-20 ATMS is detailed in [5][7][8]. On-orbit performance is evaluated through data collects from nominal mission operations as well as specific post-launch tests and spacecraft maneuvers. Nominal mission operations can be used to evaluate parameters such as instrument thermal stability, Noise Equivalent Delta Temperature (NEDT)/radiometric sensitivity, geolocation, inter-channel noise correlation, striping, and radiometric bias and stability. Shortly after instrument activation, the instrument thermal stability as measured from onboard temperature sensors is evaluated to demonstrate stable and steady-state behavior. Methods for computing NEDT are described in [9][10][11]. Passive geolocation measurements are performed using the coastline inflection point (CIP) method, described in [8][12]. The striping index, used as a metric to quantify striping, is the ratio of along-track variance to cross-track variance of the observed brightness temperature [4][8][14]. Inter-channel noise correlation has been previously reported for SNPP and NOAA-20 [1][8]. Dedicated post-launch tests and spacecraft maneuvers are utilized during the commissioning phase for further evaluation of on-orbit instrument performance. These activities provide information on the optimal space view selection, noise power spectral density (PSD), gain stability, scan bias, interference from onboard transmitters, reflector emissivity, active geolocation, and radiometric bias and stability detection methods. The optimal space view selection is used to determine which of ATMS space view sectors is preferred for minimizing contamination of the space view [1]. Point and stare testing is used to generate noise PSD and gain stability information, as described in [1][8]. Spacecraft roll and pitch maneuvers allow the ATMS to view different zones, including deep space, and the data can be used to provide information on scan biases and antenna sidelobe contamination [1][8]. The pitch maneuver can also be used to assess interference from onboard Ka-band transmitters and reflector emissivity [8]. Active geolocation is evaluated as a method for geolocation, described in [15].

Edward Kim↗

VIIRS Version 2 Deep Blue Aerosol Products

NASA's Deep Blue aerosol project has developed global aerosol data records using consistent retrieval algorithms applied to various satellite sensors. The primary components of these data records are derived from the series of Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) aboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or NOAA-20+ satellites as well as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), among others. These instruments provide over 23 years of measurements with similar radiometric characteristics for aerosol retrievals. The algorithms used for the initial Version 1 SNPP VIIRS data set were based on the MODIS Collection 6.1 Deep Blue algorithm over land and Satellite Ocean Aerosol Retrieval (SOAR) algorithm over water. For VIIRS Version 2 data reprocessing, major updates have been made to the algorithm suite, including better accounting for effects of surface pressure, improved determination of surface reflectance, and the inclusion of fine-mode aerosol optical models to better represent anthropogenic aerosols over land. Cross-calibration gain factors are derived for the NOAA-20 VIIRS measurements to be consistent with the SNPP VIIRS, which allows the use of a unified algorithm package for both instruments. Comparisons against AERONET observations indicate that the Version 2 AOD data from SNPP VIIRS are significantly better than the Version 1 counterpart over land and slightly degraded over water in exchange for better spatial coverage. The AOD data from SNPP and NOAA-20 VIIRS are comparable, indicating that cross-calibration enables the creation of consistent aerosol data records using the series of VIIRS sensors.

Deep Blue↗

Inter-Calibrating the CERES SW Instrument Fluxes Using Deep Convective Clouds(DCC) Within the Same Sun-Synchronous Orbit

The NASA CERES EBAF product provides the scientific community observed TOA fluxes to monitor the Earth’s energy imbalance and to validate climate models. To provide a seamless EBAF 24-year record, the CERES instrument calibration must be stable and consistent across satellite records. Once the Terra and Aqua spacecraft are decommissioned at the end of 2025, the CERES project will rely on CERES instrument observations on the SNPP and NOAA-20 1:30 PM sun-synchronous orbits. The SNPP and NOAA-20 satellite orbit placement will prevent any time matched observations for inter-calibration efforts. The future Libera instrument, which will continue the CERES record and scheduled for launch in 2028 onboard the NOAA-22 satellite, will also need to be inter-calibrated without the aid of time-matched observations. Deep convective clouds (DCC) are the most Lambertian, brightest, tropical Earth invariant targets located at the tropopause making them ideal to radiometrically scale the CERES SW observed radiance to a common reference. The SNPP, NOAA-20 and future NOAA-22 satellites are in the same 16-day repeatable orbits, allowing the DCC targets to be observed with the same angular configuration. The empirically derived SNPP CERES SW channel Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) can be easily be applied to the NOAA-20 CERES SW channel radiances since they observe the nearly the same DCC systems. The DCC BRDF corrected radiances are analyzed collectively into radiance probability distribution functions (PDF). By comparing the PDF statistics, the SNPP and NOAA-20 CERES SW channel can be inter-calibrated. The inter-calibration coefficients are validated with the CERES instrument calibration team coefficients to optimize the methodology.

David Doelling↗

Evolution of the JPSS Ground Project Calibration and Validation System

The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) next-generation operational Earth observation Program that acquires and distributes global environmental data from multiple polar-orbiting satellites. The JPSS Program plays a critical role to NOAAs mission to understand and predict changes in weather, climate, oceans, coasts, and space environments, which supports the Nation’s economy and protection of lives and property. The National Aerospace and Atmospheric Administration (NASA) is acquiring and implementing the JPSS, comprised of flight and ground systems on behalf of NOAA. The JPSS satellites are planned to fly in the afternoon orbit and will provide operational continuity of satellite-based observations and products for NOAA Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite. To support the JPSS Calibration and Validation (CalVal) node Government Resource for Algorithm Verification, Independent Test, and Evaluation (GRAVITE) services facilitate: Algorithm Integration and Checkout, Algorithm and Product Operational Tuning, Instrument Calibration, Product Validation, Algorithm Investigation, and Data Quality Support and Monitoring. GRAVITE is a mature, deployed system that currently supports the SNPP Mission and has been in operations since SNPP launch. This paper discusses the major re-architecture for Block 2.0 that incorporates SNPP lessons learned, architecture of the system, and demonstrates how GRAVITE has evolved as a system with increased performance. It is now a robust, stable, reliable, maintainable, scalable, and secure system that supports development, test, and production strings, replaces proprietary and custom software, uses open source software, and is compliant with NASA and NOAA standards.

Data Processing↗