Engineering topics

Barnes, William L.

Publications and source records attributed to Barnes, William L..

10 records

NASA NTRS2018

Updates of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer On-Orbit Calibration Uncertainty Assessments

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments have successfully operated for more than 18 and 16 years, respectively, on-board the NASA’s Earth Observing System Terra and Aqua spacecraft. Both Terra and Aqua MODIS have significantly contributed to the advance of global Earth remote sensing applications with a broad range of science products that have been continuously produced since the beginning of each mission and freely distributed to users worldwide. MODIS collects data in 20 reflective solar bands (RSB) and 16 thermal emissive bands (TEB), covering wavelengths from 0.41 to 14.4 μm. Its level 1B (L1B) data products, which provide the input for the MODIS high-level science products, include the top of the atmosphere reflectance factors for the RSB, radiances for both the RSB and TEB, and associated uncertainty indices (UI) at a pixel-by-pixel level. This paper provides a brief review of MODIS L1B calibration algorithms, including a number of improvements made in recent years. It presents an update of sensor calibration uncertainty assessments with a focus on several new contributors resulting from on-orbit changes in sensor characteristics, approaches developed to address these changes, and the impact due to on-orbit changes on the L1B data quality. Also discussed are remaining challenges and potential improvements to be made to continuously maintain sensor calibration and data quality, particularly those related to the quality of MODIS L1B uncertainty.

Spectroradiometer↗

NASA NTRS2015

Terra and Aqua MODIS Thermal Emissive Bands On-Orbit Calibration and Performance

Since launch, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments on the Terra and Aqua spacecraft have operated successfully for more than 14 and 12 years, respectively. A key instrument for National Aeronautics and Space Administration Earth Observing System missions, MODIS was designed to make continuous observations for studies of Earth's land, ocean, and atmospheric properties and to extend existing data records from heritage Earth observing sensors. The 16 thermal emissive bands (TEBs) (3.75-14.24 micrometers) are calibrated on orbit using a temperature controlled blackbody (BB). Both Terra and Aqua MODIS BBs have displayed minimal drift over the mission lifetime, and the seasonal variations of the BB temperature are extremely small in Aqua MODIS. The long-term gain and noise equivalent difference in temperature performance of the 160 TEB detectors on both MODIS instruments have been well behaved and generally very stable. Small but noticeable variations of Aqua MODIS bands 33-36 (13.34-14.24 micrometer) response in recent years are primarily due to loss of temperature control margin of its passive cryoradiative cooler. As a result, fixed calibration coefficients, previously used by bands when the BB temperature is above their saturation temperatures, are replaced by the focal-plane-temperature-dependent calibration coefficients. This paper presents an overview of the MODIS TEB calibration, the on-orbit performance, and the challenging issues likely to impact the instruments as they continue operating well past their designed lifetime of six years.

TEBs↗

NASA NTRS2009

Overview of NASA Earth Observing Systems Terra and Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Instrument Calibration Algorithms and On-Orbit Performance

Since launch, the Terra and Aqua moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments have successfully operated on-orbit for more than 9 and 6.5 years, respectively. Iv1ODIS, a key instrument for the NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) missions, was designed to make continuous observations for studies of Earth's land, ocean, and atmospheric properties and to extend existing data records from heritage earth-observing sensors. In addition to frequent global coverage, MODIS observations are made in 36 spectral bands, covering both solar reflective and thermal emissive spectral regions. Nearly 40 data products are routinely generated from MODIS' observations and publicly distributed for a broad range of applications. Both instruments have produced an unprecedented amount of data in support of the science community. As a general reference for understanding sensor operation and calibration, and thus science data quality, we ;provide an overview of the MODIS instruments and their pre-launch calibration and characterization, and describe their on-orbit calibration algorithms and performance. On-orbit results from both Terra and Aqua MODIS radiometric, spectral, and "spatial calibration are discussed. Currently, both instruments, including their on-board calibration devices, are healthy and are expected to continue operation for several }rears to come.

Xiong, Xiaoxiong↗

NASA NTRS2009

Aqua MODIS Thermal Emissive Band On-Orbit Calibration, Characterization, and Performance

The NASA's Earth Observing System Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) has continued to operate with satisfactory performance since its launch in May 2002, exceeding its nominal six-year design lifetime. Its continuous Earth observations have been used to generate many science data products for studies of the Earth's, system. MODIS has 36 spectral bands; 20 reflective solar bands and 16 thermal emissive bands (TEBs). All TEB observations are made at 1-km nadir spatial resolution with spectral wavelengths from 3.7 to 14.4 pm. Primary applications of MODIS TEB 'include surface, cloud, and atmospheric temperatures, water vapor, and cloud top altitude. MODIS TEB on-orbit calibration uses a quadratic algorithm with its calibration coefficients derived using an onboard blackbody (BB). This paper will present Aqua MODIS TEB on-orbit calibration, characterization, and performance over its six-year mission. Examples of instrument thermal behavior, BB temperature stability, detector short-term stability, and changes in long-term response (or system gain) will be presented. Comparisons will also be made with Terra MODIS, launched in December 1999. On-orbit results show that Aqua MODIS and its focal plane temperatures have behaved normally. BB temperature has remained extremely stable with typical scan -to-scan variations of less than +/-0.15 mK. Most TEB detectors continue to exceed their specified signal-to-noise ratio requirements, exhibiting excellent short-term stability and calibration accuracy. Excluding a few noisy detectors, either identified prelaunch or occurring postlaunch, on-orbit changes in TEB responses have been less than 0.5% on an annual basis. By comparison; the overall Aqua TEB performance has been better than that of Terra MODIS,

Xiong, Xiaoxiong↗

NASA NTRS2001

Using VIIRS to Provide Data Continuity with MODIS

Long-term continuity of the data series being initiated by the MODIS (MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA's Terra mission will be obtained using the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) flying on the converged National Polar-Orbiting Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) and on the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP). The data series include critical parameters such as cloud and aerosol properties, vegetation index, land use and land cover, ocean chlorophyll and sea surface temperature. VIIRS is being designed and built by Raytheon for the Integrated Program Office (IPO), the DoD, NOAA and NASA consortium that is responsible for NPOESS. In addition to meeting the requirements for operational environmental monitoring, VIIRS will meet the needs of the global change research community through the use of state-of-the-art algorithms and calibration and characterization activities.

Murphy, Robert E.↗

NASA NTRS1999

On Orbit Measurement of Response vs. Scan Angle for the Infrared Bands on TRMM/VIRS

The Visible and Infrared Scanner on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM/VIRS) is a whiskbroom imaging radiometer with two reflected solar bands and three emissive infrared bands. All five detectors are on a single cooled focal plane. This configuration necessitated the use of a paddlewheel scan mirror to avoid the effects of focal plane rotation that arise when using a scan mirror that is inclined to its axis of rotation. System radiometric requirements led to the need for protected silver as the mirror surface. Unfortunately, the SiO(x) coatings currently used to protect silver from oxidation introduce a change in reflectance with angle of incidence (AOI). This AOI dependence results in a modulation of system level response with scan angle. Measurement of system response vs. scan angle (RVS) was not difficult for the VIRS reflected solar bands, but attaining the required accuracy for the IR bands in the laboratory was not possible without a large vacuum chamber and a considerable amount of custom designed testing apparatus. Therefore, the decision was made to conduct the measurement on-orbit. On three separate occasions, the TRMM spacecraft was rotated about its pitch axis and, after the nadir view passed over the Earth's limb, the VIRS performed several thousand scans while viewing deep space. The resulting data has been analyzed and the RVS curves generated for the three IR bands are being used in the VIRS radiometric calibration algorithm. This, to our knowledge, the first time this measurement has been made on-orbit. Similar measurements are planned for the EOS-AM and EOS-PM MODIS sensors and are being considered for several systems under development. The VIRS on-orbit results will be compared to VIRS and MODIS system level laboratory measurements, MODIS scan mirror witness sample measurements and modeled data.

Barnes, William L.↗

NASA NTRS1994

SeaWiFS technical report series. Volume 23: SeaWiFS prelaunch radiometric calibration and spectral characterization

Based on the operating characteristics of the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS), calibration equations have been developed that allow conversion of the counts from the radiometer into Earth-existing radiances. These radiances are the geophysical properties the instrument has been designed to measure. SeaWiFS uses bilinear gains to allow high sensitivity measurements of ocean-leaving radiances and low sensitivity measurements of radiances from clouds, which are much brighter than the ocean. The calculation of these bilinear gains is central to the calibration equations. Several other factors within these equations are also included. Among these are the spectral responses of the eight SeaWiFS bands. A band's spectral response includes the ability of the band to isolate a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and the amount of light that lies outside of that region. The latter is termed out-of-band response. In the calibration procedure, some of the counts from the instrument are produced by radiance in the out-of-band region. The number of those counts for each band is a function of the spectral shape of the source. For the SeaWiFS calibration equations, the out-of-band responses are converted from those for the laboratory source into those for a source with the spectral shape of solar flux. The solar flux, unlike the laboratory calibration, approximates the spectral shape of the Earth-existing radiance from the oceans. This conversion modifies the results from the laboratory radiometric calibration by 1-4 percent, depending on the band. These and other factors in the SeaWiFS calibration equations are presented here, both for users of the SeaWiFS data set and for researchers making ground-based radiance measurements in support of Sea WiFS.

Barnes, Robert A.↗

NASA NTRS1994

SeaWiFS Technical Report Series. Volume 22: Prelaunch Acceptance Report for the SeaWiFS Radiometer

The final acceptance, or rejection, of the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) will be determined by the instrument's on-orbit operation. There is, however, an extensive set of laboratory measurements describing the operating characteristics of the radiometer. Many of the requirements in the Ocean Color Data Mission (OCDM) specifications can be checked only by laboratory measurements. Here, the calibration review panel examines the laboratory characterization and calibration of SeaWiFS in the light of the OCDM performance specification. Overall, the performance of the SeaWiFS instrument meets or exceeds the requirements of the OCDM contract in all but a few unimportant details. The detailed results of this examination are presented here by following the outline of the specifications, as found in the Contract. The results are presented in the form of requirements and compliance pairs. These results give conclusions on many, but not all, of the performance specifications. The acceptance by this panel of the performance of SeaWiFS must only be considered as an intermediate conclusion. The ultimate acceptance (or rejection) of the SeaWiFS data set will rely on the measurements made by the instrument on orbit.

Hooker, Stanford B.↗

NASA NTRS1994

SeaWiFS technical report series. Volume 22: Prelaunch acceptance report for the SeaWFS radiometer

The final acceptance, or rejection, of the Sea-viewing Wide field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) will be determined by the instrument's on-orbit operation. There is, however, an extensive set of laboratory measurements describing the operating characteristics of the radiometer. Many of the requirements in the Ocean Color Data Mission (OCDM) specifications can be checked only by laboratory measurements. Here, the calibration review panel (composed of the authors of this technical memorandum) examines the laboratory characterization and calibration of SeaWiFS in the light of the OCDM performance specification. Overall, the performance of the SeaWiFS instrument meets or exceeds the requirements of the OCDM contract in all but a few unimportant details. The detailed results of this examination are presented here by following the outline of the specifications, as found in the Contract. The results are presented in the form of requirements and compliance pairs. These results give conclusions on many, but not all, of the performance specifications. The acceptance of this panel of the performance of SeaWiFS must only be considered as an intermediate conclusion. The ultimate acceptance (or rejection) of the SeaWiFS data set will rely on the measurements made by the instrument on orbit.

Hooker, Stanford B.↗

NASA NTRS1993

SeaWiFS technical report series. Volume 10: Modeling of the SeaWiFS solar and lunar observations

Post-launch stability monitoring of the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWifs) will include periodic sweeps of both an onboard solar diffuser plate and the moon. The diffuser views will provide short-term checks and the lunar views will monitor long-term trends in the instrument's radiometric stability. Models of the expected sensor response to these observations were created on the SeaWiFS computer at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) using the Interactive Data Language (IDL) utility with a graphical user interface (GUI). The solar model uses the area of intersecting circles to simulate the ramping of sensor response while viewing the diffuser. This model is compared with preflight laboratory scans of the solar diffuser. The lunar model reads a high-resolution lunar image as input. The observations of the moon are simulated with a bright target recovery algorithm that includes ramping and ringing functions. Tests using the lunar model indicate that the integrated radiance of the entire lunar surface provides a more stable quantity than the mean of radiances from centralized pixels. The lunar model is compared to ground-based scans by the SeaWiFS instrument of a full moon in December 1992. Quality assurance and trend analyses routines for calibration and for telemetry data are also discussed.

Woodward, Robert H.↗