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At least 73 records · Page 4

Assess Calibration Consistency of MODIS and AVHRR Thermal Infrared Bands Using SNO Observations Corrected for Atmospheric Effects

Monitoring environmental changes from space requires extremely well-calibrated observations to achieve the necessary high accuracy and stability. The calibration differences between the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) thermal bands provide a valuable quality assessment of the instrument performance. This letter compares the calibration differences between the Aqua MODIS and NOAA-18 AVHRR bands at 11.0 and 12.0 /Lm using simultaneous nadir overpass observations obtained in nearly parallel orbits. Impacts due to the relative spectral-response differences between the two sensors are estimated by MODTRAN simulations with real-time atmospheric profiles of temperature, water vapor, atmospheric pressure and ozone, and surface skin temperatures. Results show that the temperature difference after the removal of atmospheric impacts is within 0.30 K (or 0.40% in radiance) across the effective calibration range (or the 1l.0 l'm band/channel. For the 12.0 pm band, the differences are OAO K (or 0.50%) at the typical radiance and up to 0.70 K (or 0.90%) close to the maximum radiance, indicating an excellent calibration consistency between MODIS and AVHRR for both bands.

Wu, Aisheng↗

Evaluation of the Surface Reflectance Long-Term Data Record from AVHRR over Multiple Land Surface Types

In this work, we evaluate the performance of the AVHRR surface reflectance LTDR V4 using Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM5) Collection-1 surface reflectance data over 440 globally distributed sites, which give a representative set of land surface types and climate conditions. Surface reflectance anisotropy effects were normalized using the VJB method, and spectral response differences were accounted for with spectral band adjustment factors (SBAFs) computed as a function of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from a set of over 100,000 hyperspectral spectra from Hyperion. The performance of the AVHRR record is reported in terms of the accuracy, precision, and uncertainty, as compared to the specifications of the reference product. Results show that the AVHRR record performance is close to the 0.071ρ+0.0071 specification defined in the original TM5 product evaluation.

LTDR↗

Revisiting AVHRR Tropospheric Aerosol Trends Using Principal Component Analysis

The advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) satellite instruments provide a nearly 25 year continuous record of global aerosol properties over the ocean. It offers valuable insights into the long-term change in global aerosol loading. However, the AVHRR data record is heavily influenced by two volcanic eruptions, El Chichon on March 1982 and Mount Pinatubo on June 1991. The gradual decay of volcanic aerosols may last years after the eruption, which potentially masks the estimation of aerosol trends in the lower troposphere, especially those of anthropogenic origin. In this study, we show that a principal component analysis approach effectively captures the bulk of the spatial and temporal variability of volcanic aerosols into a single mode. The spatial pattern and time series of this mode provide a good match to the global distribution and decay of volcanic aerosols. We further reconstruct the data set by removing the volcanic aerosol component and reestimate the global and regional aerosol trends. Globally, the reconstructed data set reveals an increase of aerosol optical depth from 1985 to 1990 and decreasing trend from 1994 to 2006. Regionally, in the 1980s, positive trends are observed over the North Atlantic and North Arabian Sea, while negative tendencies are present off the West African coast and North Pacific. During the 1994 to 2006 period, the Gulf of Mexico, North Atlantic close to Europe, and North Africa exhibit negative trends, while the coastal regions of East and South Asia, the Sahel region, and South America show positive trends.

volcanoes↗

Classification of simulated and actual NOAA-6 AVHRR data for hydrologic land-surface feature definition

An examination of the possibilities of using Landsat data to simulate NOAA-6 Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data on two channels, as well as using actual NOAA-6 imagery, for large-scale hydrological studies is presented. A running average was obtained of 18 consecutive pixels of 1 km resolution taken by the Landsat scanners were scaled up to 8-bit data and investigated for different gray levels. AVHRR data comprising five channels of 10-bit, band-interleaved information covering 10 deg latitude were analyzed and a suitable pixel grid was chosen for comparison with the Landsat data in a supervised classification format, an unsupervised mode, and with ground truth. Landcover delineation was explored by removing snow, water, and cloud features from the cluster analysis, and resulted in less than 10% difference. Low resolution large-scale data was determined useful for characterizing some landcover features if weekly and/or monthly updates are maintained.

Ormsby, J. P.↗

Study to assess the importance of errors introduced by applying NOAA 6 and NOAA 7 AVHRR data as an estimator of vegetative vigor: Feasibility study of data normalization

The use of NOAA AVHRR data to map and monitor vegetation types and conditions in near real-time can be enhanced by using a portion of each GAC image that is larger than the central 25% now considered. Enlargement of the cloud free image data set can permit development of a series of algorithms for correcting imagery for ground reflectance and for atmospheric scattering anisotropy within certain accuracy limits. Empirical correction algorithms used to normalize digital radiance or VIN data must contain factors for growth stage and for instrument spectral response. While it is not possible to correct for random fluctuations in target radiance, it is possible to estimate the necessary radiance difference between targets in order to provide target discrimination and quantification within predetermined limits of accuracy. A major difficulty lies in the lack of documentation of preprocessing algorithms used on AVHRR digital data.

Duggin, M. J.↗

Comparison of Landsat MSS, Nimbus 7 CZCS, and NOAA 6/7 AVHRR features for land use analysis

Spectral characteristics of the Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) on board Nimbus 7, the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on NOAA 6 and 7 and the Multispectral Scanner (MSS) on Landsat 1-3 are analyzed to comparatively assess their utility for land use analysis through remote sensing. The examination of simulated in-band radiances suggests that each sensor would respond to incident radiation reflected from a typical agricultural scene in a highly comparable manner, with most of the variation captured in two physically related variables. Several measures of green vegetation are examined and features are proposed for crop condition assessment with consideration of the course resolution characteristics of AVHRR and CZCS.

Cicone, R. C.↗

Scan angle dependence of radiance recorded by the NOAA-AVHRR

NOAA-AVHRR data is being used to monitor global vegetation type and condition and to study various environmental factors in addition to performance of meteorological functions. The AVHRR instrument has + or - 54 deg as maximum scan angle limits and it is necessary to be aware of the effects of sun-target-sensor geometry at extreme scan angles to be able to properly interpret the satellite images. In order to interpret the images for vegetation type and condition analysis, it is necessary to calibrate back to the nadir view position. Both simulation studies and empirical investigations with digital scanner data have been performed in order to sufficiently understand the effects of scan angle and sun angle, as well as the effects of atmospheric scattering, to eventually perform adequate calibrations. Not surprisingly, the effects are large and studies are continuing to provide improved calibrations.

Duggin, M. J.↗

Dependence of NOAA-AVHRR recorded radiance on scan angle, atmospheric turbidity and unresolved cloud

Experimental evidence on the scan angle and sun angle dependence of radiance recorded by the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) devices on the NOAA-6 and NOAA-7 satellites is presented. The effects of atmospheric turbidity at various scan angles is shown, and simulations of angular anisotropy and recorded radiance are compared with the recorded digital data from the AVHRR obtained over the Great Plains area of the US. Evidence is presented on the effects of unresolved cloud on the recorded radiance and vegetative indices from uniform, vegetative targets.

Piwinski, D. J.↗

Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sensor comparison characteristics

Advantages and limitations of the AVHRR multichannel sea surface temperature (MCSST) detecting technique using NOAA satellites are discussed. The error characteristics of MCSST's from statistical tables and regional AVHRR error characteristics from global anomaly charts are also discussed. Some soruces of errors and positive findings are reviewed.

Mcclain, E. P.↗

Application of AVHRR vegetation index to study atmosphere-biosphere exchange of CO2

The Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) satellite-borne sensor is presently used, together with field data, to determine the geographic distributions of the seasonal exchange of CO2 between the earth's atmosphere and the terrestrial biota. The exchange functions thus obtained are validated in virtue of the ability to reproduce the observed annual cycle of atmospheric CO2 in a three-dimensional tracer transport model. The AVHRR is carried by the TIROS-N series of polar-orbiting satellites.

Fung, I. Y.↗

Vegetation assessment using a combination of visible, near-IR, and thermal-IR AVHRR data

Twelve-hour temperature difference (thermal inertia) maps generated by rectifying and registering ascending (day) passes and descending (night) passes of the NOAA-7 Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) are compared to vegetation index maps generated from the visible and near IR data from the day pass of that satellite. There appears to be significant and unique information concerning surface characteristics in the temperature difference data on the 1-km scale of the AVHRR. A scatter diagram is provided which shows the pattern of day-night temperature difference compared to vegetation index for irrigated agriculture, dry rangeland, lakes, wet areas and burned rangeland. A detailed description of the techniques employed to provide the day-night temperature maps is provided.

Whitehead, V. S.↗

Vegetation assessment using a combination of visible, near-IR and thermal-IR AVHRR data

Twelve hour temperature difference (thermal inertia) maps generated by rectifying and registering ascending (day) passes and descending (night) passes of the NOAA-7 Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) are compared to vegetation index maps generated from the visible and near IR data from the day pass of that satellite. There appears to be significant and unique information concerning surface characteristics in the temperature difference data on the 1 km scale of the AVHRR. A scatter diagram is provided which shows the pattern of day-night temperature difference compared to vegetation index for irrigated agriculture, dry rangeland, lakes, wet areas and burned rangeland. A detailed description of the techniques employed to provide the day-night temperature maps is provided.

Whitehead, V. S.↗

Absolute radiometric calibration of the NOAA AVHRR sensors

Three different approaches to the absolute radiometric calibration of the two reflective channels of the NOAA AVHRR sensors are presented. The first method involves ground and atmospheric measurements and reference to another calibrated satellite sensor. The second involves ground and atmospheric measurements with no reference to another sensor, while the third method involves no ground and atmospheric measurements but reference to another sensor. NOAA-9 and NOAA-10 AVHRR data sets are presented.

Teillet, P. M.↗

AVHRR for monitoring global tropical deforestation

Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data have been used to assess the dynamics of forest trnsformations in three parts of the tropical belt. A large portion of the Amazon Basin has been systematically covered by Local Area Coverage (LAC) data in the 1985-1987 period. The analysis of the vegetation index and thermal data led to the identification and measurement of large areas of active deforestation. The Kalimantan/Borneo forest fires were monitored and their impact was evaluated using the Global Area Coverage (GAC) 4 km resolution data. Finally, High Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT) data have provided preliminary information on current activities taking place at the boundary between the savanna and the forest in the Southern part of West Africa. The AVHRR approach is found to be a highly valuable means for carrying out deforestation assessments in regional and global perspectives.

Malingreau, J. P.↗

Properties of cirrus from multispectral AVHRR imagery data

The discovery that the 11 and 12 microns window channels of AVHRR could be used to detect and even characterize the properties of cirrus stimulated the present study which reexamines the general multispectral approach for retrieving cirrus cloud top temperature and emissivity. The generalized multispectral approach described compliments the CO2 slicing method used by Wylie and the bispectral threshold methods used by Minnis et al. While the results shown were for 11 and 12 micron radiances, better definition of the cloud top temperature is probably obtainable using 3.7 micron radiances in combination with the 11 and 12 micron radiances. During the day reflection of solar radiation at 3.7 micron by low level water clouds makes the analysis untenable. At night, at least with the NOAA-9 AVHRR, instrument noise in the 3.7 micron channel also makes the analysis untenable. The identification of semitransparent systems using 3.7 micron radiances has been noted elsewhere.

Coakley, James A., Jr.↗

Merging AVHRR and SMMR data for remote sensing of ice and cloud in polar regions

Multispectral data from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) were digitally processed and merged with Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) imagery. Five channels of AVHRR data, four channels of SMRR brightness temperatures and SMMR-derived ice concentration and ice type were co-registered to a polar stereographic grid. The merged data sets are currently being used in combination with meteorological information for integrated studies of clouds and sea ice.

Maslanik, J. A.↗

Observations of winter polynyas and fractures using NOAA AVHRR TIR images and Nimbus-7 SMMR sea ice concentration charts

The validity of the daily sea ice concentration charts obtained from Nimbus-7 SMMR data is tested against thermal IR NOAA AVHRR-4 images with a 1.1 x 1.1 km resolution. Polynyas and fractures recorded in both data sets are compared for the same times over the same areas. Although the coarser resolution of SMMR data leads to a loss of detail, it is found that the ice concentration charts provide valuable data on openings in the ice. The SMMR data on the location, orientation, and size of polynyas and fractures are shown to be in good agreement with the AVHRR data. Also, the results suggest that the location and orientation of plynyas and fractures are related to the direction of surface winds.

Dey, B.↗

Regression and ratio estimators to integrate AVHRR and MSS data

Regression and ratio estimators are used to integrate AVHRR-Global Area Coverage (GAC) and Landsat MSS digital data to estimate forest area in the continental United States. Forestlands are enumerated for the 48 contiguous states using five different AVHRR-GAC data sets. Results indicated that the GAC and MSS forest estimates were not highly correlated. Although the ratio of means and linear regression corrections were, on the average, closer to national U.S. Forest Service forest area estimates, these correction procedures did not consistently improve GAC estimates of forest area. GAC forest area estimates tended to be high in densely forested regions such as the northeast and low in sparsely forested areas.

Nelson, Ross↗