Engineering topics

Qiaozhen Mu

Publications and source records attributed to Qiaozhen Mu.

9 records

NASA NTRS2023

Impact of Satellite Orbit Drift on Modis Earth Scene Observations Used in Calibration of the Reflective Solar Bands

After more than 20 years in orbit, NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites have both started drifting away from their historically maintained orbits. The MODIS instruments on Terra and Aqua continue to collect valuable Earth observation data, but the changing orbits present a challenge for maintaining accurate calibration. The MODIS reflective solar bands (RSB), spanning the wavelength range from 412 nm to 2130 nm, are calibrated on orbit using a combination of regular data collections from an on-board solar diffuser, the Moon, and pseudo-invariant Earth scenes. Starting in the Collection 6 Level 1B (L1B) data products, the RSB calibration began using data from desert targets for a few of the visible bands to better track changes in the response versus scan angle that could not be captured by the on-board calibration. The use of Earth scene data has been extended recently for Terra MODIS calibration in Collection 6.1 (C6.1) and the upcoming Collection 7 (C7) L1B to also include data from ocean scenes and deep convective clouds (DCC). Drifts in both the orbit inclination and ground track of Terra and Aqua lead to changes in the solar illumination angles and satellite view angles of the Earth scenes. We discuss how these orbital changes impact the desert and DCC targets used for MODIS RSB calibration and present the accompanying changes made to our C6.1 and C7 calibration algorithms. We also discuss remaining future challenges, such as better characterization of bi-directional reflectance distribution functions, and possible alternative calibration strategies.

MODIS↗

NASA NTRS2022

An Assessment of SNPP and NOAA20 VIIRS RSB Calibration Performance in NASA SIPS Reprocessed Collection-2 L1B Data Products

Two VIIRS sensors onboard the SNPP and NOAA20 satellites have been successfully operating for over 10 and 4 years, respectively, providing the worldwide user community with high-quality imagery and radiometric measurements of the land, atmosphere, cryosphere, and oceans. This study provides a temporal radiometric stability and calibration consistency assessment of the SNPP and NOAA20 VIIRS reflective solar bands using the latest NASA SIPS C2 L1B products. Several independent vicarious approaches are used to examine the stability of SNPP VIIRS and consistency of the at-sensor reflectance between the two VIIRS instruments. These approaches include observations from simultaneous nadir overpasses, the Libya-4 desert and Dome C snow/ice sites, and deep convective clouds. The impact of existing band spectral differences on the reflectance measurements is accounted for utilizing scene-specific hyperspectral observations provided by the SCIAMACHY sensor onboard the ENVISAT platform. Results indicate that both SNPP and NOAA20 VIIRS reflectances are stable within 1% over their mission periods for all bands, except for a few bands in the visible range from SNPP VIIRS that show more upward drifts at high radiances. NOAA20 VIIRS reflectances are systematically lower than SNPP by 2 to 4% for most bands, with the exception of few short wavelength bands where it is seen to be up to 7%.

VIIRS↗

NASA NTRS2021

MODIS Reflective Solar Bands Calibration Improvements for Collection 7

Calibration of Terra and Aqua MODIS reflective solar bands (RSB) has evolved significantly since the launch of the first MODIS instrument on the Terra satellite more than 21 years ago. In NASA’s current Collection 6 and 6.1 Level 1B products (C6/C6.1 L1B), the RSB calibration algorithm continues to rely primarily on the onboard solar diffuser to calibrate the instrument gain. Lunar observations are used to track on-orbit changes in the response versus scan angle (RVS), and data from pseudo-invariant desert sites are used to apply adjustments to the gain and RVS calibration for select bands. The resulting reflectance products have in general shown a very stable performance. In recent years, some performance degradation has been noted for a few bands and algorithm changes have been tested to further improve the calibration accuracy for the upcoming Collection 7 (C7) L1B reprocess. In this paper, we present the MODIS RSB calibration improvements that will be included in C7. Major improvements include: applying polarization correction to the desert data before using it to generateRVS for Terra bands 8, 9, 3, and 10; using ocean scene data and an interband calibration approach to correct for long-term drift of Terra bands 11 and 12; applying an updated crosstalk correction to Terra SWIR bands over the entire mission; and using data from deep convective clouds in Terra SWIR band calibration, including the addition of time-dependent RVS for bands 5 and 26. All other minor calibration changes are also covered. Overall, the reflectance differences at nadir between C6.1 and C7 are within a few percent, though the differences increase in some cases at large scan angles. The Terra visible (3, 8-12) and SWIR bands (5-7, 26) have the most significant improvements. For all other Terra bands and all Aqua bands, the C7-C6.1 differences are mostly within 1%

MODIS↗

NASA NTRS2021

Positional Dependence of SNPP VIIRS Solar Diffuser BRDF Change Factor: An Empirical Approach

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 reflective solar bands (RSBs), primarily through observations of an onboard sunlit solar diffuser (SD). The on-orbit change of the SD bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) value, quantified by a numerical factor called the H-factor, is determined by the onboard SD stability monitor. Our previous study showed that the H-factor is solar angle and view direction dependent. In this study, we determine the dependence of the H-factor on the detector SD view footprint location. We fit an empirical model to the NASA Collection 1 SNPP VIIRS Level 1B (L1B) spectral reflectance difference across the detectors in an RSB over uniform Earth scenes of the Libya 4 desert and deep convective clouds. We apply the model predicted SD positional dependent H-factor to calibrate the RSBs. Under this new calibration scheme, the original unreal striping is removed from the homogeneous Libya 4 desert and the deep convective cloud images, as well as the original unreal striping from the Dunhuang desert image. The SD positional dependent H-factor has been used to calculate the SNPP VIIRS RSB radiometric correction factor for the NASA Collection 2.0 SNPP VIIRS L1B products.

SNPP VIIRS↗

NASA NTRS2020

The MODIS RSB calibration and look-up-table delivery process for Collection 6 and 6.1

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments on-board the Aqua and Terra space-craft have provided valuable science data for the last 18 and 20 years, respectively. Each instrument is equipped with 36 spectral bands, 20 of which are reflective solar bands (RSBs). These bands cover a wavelength range of 0.4 – 2.2μm and are calibrated on-orbit using several on-board calibrators (OBCs), such as a solar diffuser (SD)and a solar diffuser stability monitor (SDSM), along with regularly-scheduled lunar observations through the space view (SV) port. The gain (1/m1) and response-verses-scan angle (RVS) are updated on a near-monthly basis and act as the primary look-up-tables (LUTs) for the RSB calibration. A set of separate uncertainty LUTs for each of the RSBs are also delivered regularly and incorporated into the Level 1B (L1B) product to generate a pixel-level Uncertainty Index (UI). In addition to the gain, RVS and uncertainty, there are several other LUTs associated with the reflective bands that are either updated less frequently or remain static. The accuracy of both the forward-predicted and historical RSB LUTs, which are derived by the MODIS Characterization Sup-port Team (MCST), is important in maintaining the quality and accuracy of the L1B and science products.To ensure a timely and accurate LUT update, MCST has established a comprehensive set of procedures. This paper provides an overview of the calibration process, along with the current LUT delivery process for the RSB sin Collection 6 (C6) and Collection 6.1 (C6.1). Improvements to be implemented in future collections are also discussed.

MODIS↗

NASA NTRS2020

MODIS Detector Differences Using Deep Convective Clouds and Desert Targets

An accurate on-orbit characterization of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors onboard the Terra and Aqua satellites is essential to satisfy the requirements from the scientific community for high-quality operational and research products. In this study, NASA’s C6.1 L1B data are utilized to assess the stability of the calibrated top of atmosphere reflectance retrieved from individual detectors within a spectral band over deep convective clouds (DCCs) and desert sites. The results from these invariant Earth targets show detector-to-detector (D2D) differences in the L1B reflectance products for select MODIS reflective solar bands. For Aqua MODIS, the D2D differences have no significant change over time for the bands studied. However, the D2D differences exhibit an increase in magnitude over time for Terra MODIS bands 1, 3-7, and 26, which can induce noticeable striping and higher uncertainties in the downstream data products. The D2D stability assessment results over DCCs are consistent with those observed over desert sites. In addition, the view-angle dependence of the D2D differences is investigated by separating the frames along scan into five zones. The D2D assessment is performed for each of the five zones, and the results will further benefit any improvements in the calibration of a detector-dependent response versus scan angle that can be considered for future MODIS Level 1B Collections.

MODIS↗

NASA NTRS2020

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↗

NASA NTRS2019

MODIS Reflective Solar Bands On-Orbit Calibration and Performance

The design of the MODIS instrument was driven by the scientific community's desire to have near-daily global coverage at moderate resolution (1 km) with a comprehensive spectral coverage from visible to long-wave infrared wavelengths. Since their launches in 1999 and 2002, respectively, the Terra and Aqua MODIS instruments have made continuous global observations and generated numerous data products to help users worldwide with their studies of the Earth's system and its short- and long-term changes. The 20 reflective solar bands (RSB) with wavelengths from 0.41 to 2.2 m collect data at three nadir spatial resolutions: 250 m, 500 m, and 1 km. The solar diffuser (SD) coupled with the solar diffuser stability monitor (SDSM) provide a reflectance-based calibration on-orbit. In addition, lunar observations and response trends from pseudo-invariant desert sites are used to characterize the response versus scan- angle changes on-orbit. This paper provides a brief overview of MODIS RSB calibration algorithms, as implemented in the latest Level 1B version 6.1, operational activities, on-orbit performance, remaining challenges and potential improvements. Results from the SD and SDSM measurements show a wavelength and mirror side dependent degradation in RSB responses, with the largest degradation at the shortest wavelengths, particularly for Terra MODIS. Aqua MODIS has experienced far less degradation of its optics and on-board calibrators compared to Terra MODIS, resulting in an overall better performance. With the exception of Aqua band 6, there have been no new noisy or inoperable detectors in the RSB of either instrument during post-launch operations. As the instruments age and continue to endure the space environment, the detectors and optical systems degrade. The challenges associated with incorporating these on-orbit changes to ensure a production of high-quality calibrated L1B data products are also discussed in this paper.

solar diffuser stability monitor↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Performance Assessment of the NOAA-20 VIIRS RSB Using Deep Convective Clouds

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the NOAA-20 (N20) satellite was launched on November 18, 2017. The N20 VIIRS reflective solar bands (RSBs) are calibrated on-orbit using a solar diffuser. An accurate on-orbit calibration is crucial to the high-quality downstream products facilitating atmosphere, ocean and land applications. In this study, the stability of the Level 1B (L1B) reflectance product is investigated using measurements over deep convective clouds (DCCs) for M-bands M1-M5, M7-M11, and I-bands I1-I3. The methodologies developed previously for Terra and Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors and Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) VIIRS are extended and applied to the N20 RSB to derive DCC-based trends. The Collection 2 L1B data produced by NASA Land Science Investigator-led Processing Systems (SIPS) is used to evaluate the performance of the N20 VIIRS RSB calibration. At nadir, the reflectance trends for M1, M5, M8-M11, and I3 are insignificant compared to their corresponding variations (STDs) except for bands M2-M4, M7, and I1-I2, whose trends are larger than or equivalent to their STDs. The reflectance is relatively stable compared to their STDs for all the study RSBs at six aggregation zones across the entire scan angle range. Also discussed in this paper are the detector-to-detector differences and half-angle mirror side differences using the DCCs. Future applications using DCCs, which include an intercomparison with SNPP VIIRS, are also discussed.

N20 VIIRS↗