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At least 163 records · Page 9

Aerosol Layer Height with Enhanced Spectral Coverage Achieved by Synergy between VIIRS and OMPS-NM Measurements

This letter presents a near production-ready algorithm to retrieve the height of biomass burning smoke and mineral dust aerosols as part of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Deep Blue aerosol data product suite. It utilizes the enhanced spectral coverage achieved by using colocated data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) and the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite Nadir Mapper (OMPS-NM), both aboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite. In particular, the 412-nm top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectance from VIIRS and the ultraviolet aerosol index from OMPS-NM are used to determine the height and single-scattering albedo of the absorbing aerosols simultaneously. Constraints on aerosol optical depth at 550 nm and surface reflectance for the 412-nm band are provided by the operational VIIRS Deep Blue aerosol product. Wildfire smoke layer heights obtained from the algorithm over North America, where smoke plumes often stretched thousands of kilometers, are shown to agree with those from Cloud–Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) measurements, with an uncertainty generally within 1–1.5 km. This new height data set will be included in the upcoming Version 2 VIIRS Deep Blue aerosol product.

aerosol↗

Aerosol Layer Height With Enhanced Spectral Coverage Achieved by Synergy Between VIIRS and OMPS-NM Measurements

This study presents a near production-ready algorithm to retrieve the height of biomass burning smoke and mineral dust aerosols as part of NASA’s Deep Blue aerosol data product suite. It utilizes the enhanced spectral coverage achieved by using co-located data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) and the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite Nadir Mapper (OMPS-NM), both aboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite. Specifically, the 412 nm top-of-atmosphere reflectance from VIIRS and the ultraviolet aerosol index from OMPS-NM are used to determine the height and single-scattering albedo of the absorbing aerosols simultaneously. Constraints on aerosol optical depth at 550 nm and surface reflectance for the 412 nm band are provided by the operational VIIRS Deep Blue aerosol product. Wildfire smoke layer heights obtained from the algorithm over North America, where smoke plumes often stretched thousands of kilometers, are shown to agree with those from Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) measurements, with an uncertainty generally within 1-1.5 km. This new height data set will be included in the upcoming Version 2 VIIRS Deep Blue aerosol product.

Aerosol↗

The NASA MODIS-VIIRS Continuity Cloud Optical Properties Products

The NASA Aqua MODIS and Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (SNPP) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) climate data record continuity cloud properties products (CLDPROP) were publicly released in April 2019 with an update later that year (Version 1.1). These cloud products, having heritage with the NASA Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) MOD06 cloud optical properties product and the NOAA GOES-R Algorithm Working Group (AWG) Cloud Height Algorithm (ACHA), represent an effort to bridge the multispectral imager records of NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS) and NOAA’s current generation of operational weather satellites to achieve a continuous, multi-decadal climate data record for clouds that can extend well into the 2030s. CLDPROP offers a “continuity of approach,” applying common algorithms and ancillary datasets to both MODIS and VIIRS, including utilizing only a subset of spectral channels available on both sensors to help mitigate instrument differences. The initial release of the CLDPROP_MODIS and CLDPROP_VIIRS data records spans the SNPP observational record (2012-present). Here, we present an overview of the algorithms and an evaluation of the intersensor continuity of the core CLDPROP_MODIS and CLDPROP_VIIRS cloud optical property datasets, i.e., cloud thermodynamic phase, optical thickness, effective particle size, and derived water path. The evaluation includes analyses of pixel-level MODIS/VIIRS co-locations as well as spatial and temporal aggregated statistics, with a focus on identifying and understanding the root causes of individual dataset discontinuities. The results of this evaluation will inform future updates to the CLDPROP products and help scientific users determine the appropriate use of the product datasets for their specific needs.

satellite remote sensing↗

Improved Spectral and Angular Characterization of Libya-4 and Dome-C for consistent MODIS and VIIRS Radiometric Scaling

The NASA CERES observed SW and LW fluxes are utilized by the climate community for monitoring the Earth’s energy imbalance and for climate model validation. To facilitate seamless flux and cloud properties across MODIS, VIIRS, and geostationary (GEO) imagers the CERES project intercalibrates the imagers directly comparing the coincident ray-matched analogous channel radiances. For CERES edition 4 products, the MODIS, VIIRS and GEO imagers were radiometrically scaled to the Aqua-MODIS C5 calibration reference. There are no direct comparison opportunities between NPP and NOAA20 VIIRS, since they are positioned a half an orbit apart. The previous usage of Aqua-MODIS as a transfer radiometer is coming to an end, since the Aqua orbit is slowly drifting towards the terminator and will be deorbited in 2026. The CERES project will utilize the Libya-4 and Dome-C invariant targets to radiometrically scale between MODIS and VIIRS reflective solar bands. The Libya-4 and Dome-C Earth invariant targets will be characterized by the repeat cycle angular configuration. The target spectral band adjustment factors (SBAF) will be derived using EMIT and DESIS hyper-spectral observations onboard the ISS and will be compared with the existing SCIAMACHY, GOME-2, and Hyperion SBAFs. The DESIS and EMIT SBAF approach can incorporate the future CLARREO CPF SI traceable hyper-spectral measurements allowing the targets to be referenced to an absolute calibration reference. Utilizing the BRDF and atmospheric corrected characterization of one sensor with another will provide the scaling factors. Consistent scaling factors between the two invariant target validates the method.

David R. Doelling↗

Statistical moments of VIIRS night-time lights

Annual VIIRS global night-time lights traditionally report mean radiance levels after filtering to remove moonlit and cloudy data followed by outlier removal. The mean is the first statistical moment, but there are three other statistical moments (variance, skew and kurtosis) that are currently not produced globally. In this study, we generated VIIRS day/night band multiyear and annual statistical moments for a widely dispersed set of test areas. The moments were calculated from 15 arc second nightly temporal profiles spanning 2012-2020, filtered to exclude cloudy and sunlit data, with radiance adjustments to reduce view angle and lunar illuminance effects. The moment data were examined in two ways: (1) Geospatial grids-which reveal zonation and temporal changes present in urban areas and (2) Scattergrams of moment pairs. The variance versus mean scattergram exhibits several distinct data clusters used to define five zones: core lighting, dark-erratics, mid-erratics, bright-erratics and bright and seteady. The results indicate that the information content of VIIRS night-time lights can be augmented if all four statistical moments are calculated.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Algorithm Science to Operations for the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Visible/Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite (VIIRS)

The VIIRS sensor provides measurements for 22 Environmental Data Records (EDRs) addressing the atmosphere, ocean surface temperature, ocean color, land parameters, aerosols, imaging for clouds and ice, and more. That is, the VIIRS collects visible and infrared radiometric data of the Earth's atmosphere, ocean, and land surfaces. Data types include atmospheric, clouds, Earth radiation budget, land/water and sea surface temperature, ocean color, and low light imagery. This wide scope of measurements calls for the preparation of a multiplicity of Algorithm Theoretical Basis Documents (ATBDs), and, additionally, for intermediate products such as cloud mask, et al. Furthermore, the VIIRS interacts with three or more other sensors. This paper addresses selected and crucial elements of the process being used to convert and test an immense volume of a maturing and changing science code to the initial operational source code in preparation for launch of NPP. The integrity of the original science code is maintained and enhanced via baseline comparisons when re-hosted, in addition to multiple planned code performance reviews.

NPOESS (NATIONAL POLAR-ORBITING OPERATIONAL ENVIRO↗

SNPP VIIRS Spectral Bands Co-Registration and Spatial Response Characterization

The Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument onboard the Suomi National Polar‐orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite was launched on 28 October 2011. The VIIRS has 5 imagery spectral bands (I-bands), 16 moderate resolution spectral bands (M-bands) and a panchromatic day/night band (DNB). Performance of the VIIRS spatial response and band-to-band co-registration (BBR) was measured through intensive pre-launch tests. These measurements were made in the non-aggregated zones near the start (or end) of scan for the I-bands and M-bands and for a limited number of aggregation modes for the DNB in order to test requirement compliance. This paper presents results based on a recently re-processed pre-launch test data. Sensor (detector) spatial impulse responses in the scan direction are parameterized in terms of ground dynamic field of view (GDFOV), horizontal spatial resolution (HSR), modulation transfer function (MTF), ensquared energy (EE) and integrated out-of-pixel (IOOP) spatial response. Results are presented for the non-aggregation, 2-sample and 3-sample aggregation zones for the I-bands and M-bands, and for a limited number of aggregation modes for the DNB. On-orbit GDFOVs measured for the 5 I-bands in the scan direction using a straight bridge are also presented. Band-to-band co-registration (BBR) is quantified using the prelaunch measured band-to-band offsets. These offsets may be expressed as fractions of horizontal sampling intervals (HSIs), detector spatial response parameters GDFOV or HSR. BBR bases on HSIs in the non-aggregation, 2-sample and 3-sample aggregation zones are presented. BBR matrices based on scan direction GDFOV and HSR are compared to the BBR matrix based on HSI in the non-aggregation zone. We demonstrate that BBR based on GDFOV is a better representation of footprint overlap and so this definition should be used in BBR requirement specifications. We propose that HSR not be used as the primary image quality indicator, since we show that it is neither an adequate representation of the size of sensor spatial response nor an adequate measure of imaging quality.

Suomi NPP VIIRS↗

Pre-Launch Radiometric Characterization of JPSS-1 VIIRS Thermal Emissive Bands

Pre-launch characterization and calibration of the thermal emissive spectral bands on the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS-1) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) is critical to ensure high quality data products for environmental and climate data records post-launch. A comprehensive test program was conducted at the Raytheon El Segundo facility in 2013-2014, including extensive environmental testing. This work is focused on the thermal band radiometric performance and stability, including evaluation of a number of sensor performance metrics and estimation of uncertainties. Analysis has shown that JPSS-1 VIIRS thermal bands perform very well in relation to their design specifications, and comparisons to the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) VIIRS instrument have shown their performance to be comparable.

Thermal Bands↗

Assessment of MODIS and VIIRS Solar Diffuser On-Orbit Degradation

Both MODIS and VIIRS instruments use a solar diffuser (SD) for their reflective solar bands (RSB) on-orbit calibration. On-orbit changes in SD bi-directional reflectance factor (BRF) are tracked by a solar diffuser stability monitor (SDSM) using its alternate measurements of the sunlight reflected off the SD panel and direct sunlight through a fixed attenuation screen. The SDSM calibration data are collected by a number of filtered detectors, covering wavelengths from 0.41 to 0.94 micrometers. In this paper we describe briefly the Terra and Aqua MODIS and S-NPP VIIRS SDSM on-orbit operation and calibration activities and strategies, provide an overall assessment of their SDSM on-orbit performance, including wavelength-dependent changes in the SDSM detector responses and changes in their SD BRF, and discuss remaining challenging issues and their potential impact on RSB calibration quality. Due to different launch dates, operating configurations, and calibration frequencies, the Terra and Aqua MODIS and S-NPP VIIRS SD have experienced different amount of SD degradation. However, in general the shorter the wavelength, the larger is the SD on-orbit degradation. On the other hand, the larger changes in SDSM detector responses are observed at longer wavelengths in the near infrared (NIR).

MODIS↗

Trending of SNPP Ephemeris and Its Implications on VIIRS Geometric Performance

This paper describes trends in the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) spacecraft ephemeris data over the four and half years of on-orbit operations. It then discusses the implications of these trends on the geometric performance of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), one of the instruments onboard SNPP. The SNPP ephemeris data includes time stamped spacecraft positions and velocities that are used to calculate the spacecraft altitude and sub-satellite locations. Through drag make-up maneuvers (DMUs) the orbital mean altitude (spacecraft altitude averaged over an orbit) has been maintained at 838.8 kilometers to within plus or minus 0.2 kilometers and the orbital period at 101.5 minutes to within plus or minus 0.2 seconds. The corresponding orbital mean velocity in the terrestrial frame of reference has been maintained at 7524 meters per second to within plus or minus 0.5 meters per second. Within an orbit, the altitude varies from 828 kilometers near 15 degrees North latitude to 856 kilometers near the South Pole. Inclination adjust maneuvers (IAMs) have maintained the orbit inclination angle at 98.67 degrees to within plus or minus 0.07 degrees and the sun-synchronous local time at ascending node (LTAN) at 13:28 to within plus or minus 5 minutes. Besides these trends, it is interesting to observe that the orbit's elliptic shape has its major axis linking the perigee and apogee shorter than the line linking the ascending node and the descending node. This effect is caused by the Earth's oblate spheroid shape and deviates from a Keplerian orbit theory in which the two orbiting bodies are point masses. VIIRS has 5 imagery resolution bands, 16 moderate resolution bands and a day-night band, with 32, 16 and 16 detectors, respectively, aligned in the spacecraft flight (also known as track) direction. For each band's sample within a scan, the detectors sample the Earth's surface simultaneously in the track direction in the Earth Centered Inertial frame of reference. The distance between the center of the area sensed by the trailing detectors of one scan and the leading detectors of the next includes a component caused by earth rotation. This earth rotation component is relatively small (approximately 70 meters per second) for an orbit like SNPP, but must be taken into account in the design of low-Earth orbit scanning sensors similar to VIIRS to ensure contiguous coverage at nadir.

SNPP↗

Initial Calibration Activities and Performance Assessments of NOAA-20 VIIRS

The second VIIRS instrument was launched on-board the NOAA-20 (formerly JPSS-1) satellite onNovember 18, 2017. It was designed and built with the same performance requirements as the first VIIRSon-board the S-NPP launched on October 28, 2011. Currently, the NOAA-20 is orbiting the Earth in thesame plane as the S-NPP but separated in time and space by 50 minutes. The VIIRS observations are made in22 spectral bands, including a day-night band (DNB) that cover wavelengths from visible to long-waveinfrared. The sensor's on-orbit calibration is provided by a set of on-board calibrators (OBCs), which includea solar diffuser (SD), a solar diffuser stability monitor (SDSM), and a blackbody (BB). After turn-on, theVIIRS instrument conducted a series of post-launch testing (PLT) and intensive calibration and validation(ICV) activities, including those performed via spacecraft maneuvers, designed to verify and establishinstrument on-orbit calibration performance baseline. This paper provides an overview of NOAA-20 VIIRSICV activities and an assessment of its initial on-orbit performance with a focus on several key calibrationparameters, such as the detector response (or gain), dynamic range, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Variousissues identified and lessons learned from initial instrument operation and calibration are also discussed insupport of long-term monitoring (LTM) of NOAA-20 VIIRS calibration and data quality.

Calibration↗

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

In Part I (Lei et. al, submitted to J. of Appl. Rem. Sens.),we gave detailed reviews of the algorithms Version 2.0 used for the on-orbit radiometric calibration of the reflective solar bands (RSBs) of the first Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite instrument. These algorithms improve the accuracy of the measured on-orbit change factor of the solar diffuser bidirectional reflectance distribution function, the H-factor, and reveal that the H-factor is angle dependent. With the help of lunar observations and the improved H-factor, the algorithms give more accurate values for the RSB detector on-orbit F-factor changes (F-factor is a correction factor to the initially retrieved scene spectral radiance). In this paper we review the RSB radiometric calibration performances. We show the H-factor temporal trend, the estimated uncertainty of the retrieved H-factor, and the F-factor temporal trend. Additionally we show the detector signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the estimated uncertainty of the top-of-the-atmosphere solar spectral reflectance, the reflectance temporal trend for the Libya 4 desert, and the differences in the reflectances among the SNPP and the NOAA-20 VIIRS, and the Aqua MODIS. Our results show that although the SNRs trend downwards, they exceed the requirements by large margins. The reflectances from the Libya 4 desert show that the SNPP VIIRS’ reflectance is higher than those of the Aqua MODIS and the NOAA-20 VIIRS.

on-orbit calibration↗

Skin Sea‐Surface Temperature from VIIRS on Suomi‐NPP—NASA Continuity Retrievals

Retrievals of skin Sea‐Surface Temperature (SSTskin) from the measurements of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite on the Suomi‐National Polar‐orbiting Partnership satellite are presented and discussed. The algorithms used to derive the SSTskin from the radiometric measurements are given in detail. A number of approaches to assess the accuracy and stability of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) SSTskin retrievals are reported, and factors including latitude and season, and physical processes in the atmosphere and at the surface are discussed. We conclude that the Suomi National Polar‐orbiting Partnership (S‐NPP) VIIRS is capable of matching and improving upon the accuracies of SSTskin from the MODISs on Terra and Aqua, and that the VIIRS SSTskin fields have the potential to contribute to the extension of the satellitederived Climate Data Records of SST into the future.

sea‐surface temperature↗

Assessment of SNPP VIIRS RSB detector-to-detector differences using deep convective clouds and deserts

An accurate on-orbit characterization of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite is essential to satisfy the requirements from NOAA, NASA, and the general research community for high-quality operational and research products. NASA’s Land Science Investigator-led Processing System (LSIPS) sensor data records (SDRs) are utilized to assess the stability of the calibrated top of atmosphere reflectance over the deep convective clouds (DCCs) and over the Libya-4desert site. The results from DCCs and desert show detector-to-detector (D2D) reflectance differences in the VIIRS reflective solar bands, 10 moderate-resolution bands (M-bands, M1to M5, M7 to M11), and three imagery resolution bands (I-bands, I1-I3). More importantly, the D2D differences exhibit an increase in magnitude over time for bands M1 to M5 and I1to I2, which induces noticeable striping and higher uncertainties in the downstream data products. The largest D2D difference is observed in bands M1 and M2, with magnitudes greater than1.8% in trends among the 16 detectors and standard deviations less than 0.12% over time. TheD2D stability assessment results over DCCs are consistent with those observed over the Libya-4desert site. To improve the quality of the calibrated SDR reflectance data, NASA’s VIIRS characterization support team has improved the calibration algorithm to incorporate corrections based on these DCC measurements to mitigate the striping (detector differences) observed in the current version of the SDR. These improvements are planned to be included in the next mission reprocessing of the LSIPS land products.

SNPP VIIRS↗

Modeling Spectral Degradation of MODIS and VIIRS Solar Diffusers

Solar diffusers (SDs) onboard the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on Terra and Aqua spacecraft and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on SNPP and NOAA-20 spacecraft have been used as the primary onboard radiometric calibrator for reflective solar bands and their spectral reflectance is known to degrade on-orbit. All of the solar diffusers on these instrument show faster degradation of reflectance in the 0.4 to 0.6 µm channels than the longer wavelength channels. The spectral degradation of these SDs is due to the surface roughness growth under the exposure to solar UV and energetic particle radiation in space. In this paper, the origin of SD degradation is modeled by the physics-based Surface Roughness-induced Rayleigh Scattering (SRRS) model. The longterm growths of surface roughness of the SD on these instruments are characterized to show the consistency of SD roughness growth rates between Terra/Aqua MODIS and SNPP/NOAA-20 VIIRS. There was coincidental flattening or reverse in the growth trend of the surface roughness for the Terra/Aqua MODIS and SNPP VIIRS SDs, which can be due to the space weather variation. The applicability of the SRRS model is demonstrated with the long term spectral reflectance data from independent spaceborne SDs.

Calibration↗

The NASA OBPG 2020 On-Orbit Calibration of SNPP VIIRS for Ocean Color Applications

The NASA Ocean Biology Processing Group (OBPG) has continued monitoring the SNPP VIIRS on-orbit calibration for bands M1-M11 over its mission to optimize the calibration for ocean color applications. The OBPG has recently implemented several changes to the calibration scheme: using solar-derived f-factors to detrend the lunar observations; using long-term exponentials of time as basis vectors (along with libration angles) for radiometric fits to any resulting lunar temporal drifts; deriving gain adjustments to the solar f-factors from these exponentials; and deriving gain adjustments due to modulated RSRs outside of the solar/lunar calibration using TOA reference spectra. These calibration changes minimize the impact of uncertainties in any one component of the calibration on the derived f-factors. The final f-factors incorporate VIIRS solar diffuser measurements, h-factor BRDF corrections, lunar-derived gains, and modulated RSR gains. The combined BRDF corrections, lunar gain adjustments, and mRSR gain adjustments define effective h-factors for each band. The improvements in the on-orbit calibration are validated by evaluation of globally-derived anomaly plots of remote sensing reflectance for the ocean color bands. The ultimate goal of the OBPG calibration effort is incorporation of a consistent SNPP VIIRS ocean color data set into the NASA multi-mission ocean color climate data record.

VIIRS↗

NOAA-20 VIIRS on-Orbit Calibration Improvements

The NOAA-20 (N-20) VIIRS has successfully operated for more than two years since its launch in November 2017. Shortly after completing its initial instrument check-outs and post-launch testing (PLT) activities, the N-20 VIIRS sensor data records (SDR) achieved the beta, provisional, and validated maturity status in January, February, and April 2018, respectively. In this paper, we briefly describe the instrument on-orbit operation and calibration activities, provide an overall assessment of its on-orbit performance, and discuss the methodologies developed to maintain and improve sensor calibration and data quality. As illustrated in this paper, the N-20 VIIRS continues to perform with excellent stability, allowing high-quality environmental data records (EDR) to be generated from its well-calibrated SDR.

NOAA-20↗

Surface Corrected Lunar MTF Measurements in MODIS and VIIRS Using the SP Model

Lunar observations have been used for sensor performance assessments for a number of Earth-observing instruments, including the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board Terra and Aqua and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on board Suomi-NPP (SNPP) and NOAA-20 (N20). While the primary purpose of lunar observations in MODIS and VIIRS is radiometric calibration, these observations have been leveraged for other sensor performance assessments such as spatial registration and deriving the modulation transfer function (MTF). In this work, we will derive the lunar MTF using a knife edge approach similar to previous work. However, to further isolate the edge of the lunar disk when deriving the edge spread function (ESF), we will apply a lunar surface variation correction using a model based on data obtained by the Spectral Profiler (SP) on board the SELENE spacecraft. This model was provided to us by AIST in Japan. To align the measured and modeled data, we developed techniques for projecting the measured lunar surface pixels onto the radiance maps produced by the SP model. We correct the lunar surface variation while preserving the signal of the lunar disk edge in the ESF, and then calculate the MTF results using standard techniques. These results are in good agreement with previously published results from both Moon-based observations in MODIS and VIIRS and from the spectroradiometric calibration assembly (SRCA) on MODIS. With the exception of MODIS bands 1 and 2, the MTF is stable on orbit for the reflective bands in both instruments.

MODIS↗