scholarly journals A MODIS Dual Spectral Rain Algorithm

2007 ◽  
Vol 46 (9) ◽  
pp. 1305-1323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Yan ◽  
Song Yang
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Rain Gauge ◽  
Water Vapor Absorption ◽  
Earth Observing System ◽  
Satellite Platform ◽  
Moderate Resolution ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ◽  
Absorption Channel ◽  
Rain Rates

Abstract The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) dual spectral rain algorithm (MODRA) is developed for rain retrievals over the northern midlatitudes. The reflectance of the MODIS water vapor absorption channel at 1.38 μm (R1.38 μm) has a potential to represent the cloud-top height displayed by the brightness temperature (TB) of the MODIS channel at 11 μm, because of an excellent negative relationship (correlation coefficient ≤−0.9) between R1.38 μm and TB11 μm for optically thick clouds with reflectance (R0.65 μm) greater than 0.75. With a training rainfall dataset from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) aboard the same Aqua satellite platform, two MODIS channels (R1.38 μm and R0.65 μm) are applied to form multiregression curves to estimate daytime rainfall. Results demonstrate that the instantaneous rain rates from MODRA, independent AMSR-E rainfall products, and surface rain gauge measurements are consistent. This study explores a new way to estimate rainfall from MODIS water vapor and cloud channels. The resulting technique could be applied to other similar satellite instruments for rain retrievals.

scholarly journals Test of the Fixed Anvil Temperature Hypothesis

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
pp. 2317-2328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Li ◽  
Ping Yang ◽  
Gerald R. North ◽  
Andrew Dessler
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Vapor Concentration ◽  
Boreal Winter ◽  
Weather Forecasts ◽  
Clear Sky ◽  
Moderate Resolution ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Different Characteristics

Abstract The fixed anvil temperature (FAT) hypothesis is examined based on the Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-based cloud-top temperature (CTT) in conjunction with the tropical atmospheric profiles and sea surface temperature (SST) from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Interim Reanalysis. Consistent with the physical governing mechanism of the FAT hypothesis, the peak clear-sky diabatic subsidence and convergence profiles are located at roughly the same level (200 hPa) as the peak in the cloud profile, which is fundamentally determined by the rapid decrease of water vapor concentration above this level. The geographical maxima of cloud fraction agree well with those of water vapor, clear-sky cooling rates, and diabatic convergence at 200 hPa. The use of direct CTT measurements suggests the CTT in specific Pacific basins exhibit different characteristics as the frequency distribution of the tropical SST varies from boreal winter to summer. When averaging over the tropics as a whole, the CTT distributions are approximately unchanged primarily because of cancellation by the variations associated with individual regions. An analysis of the response of the tropical mean CTT anomaly time series to the SST indicates that a possible negative relationship is present, whereas the relationship tends to be positive over the tropical western Pacific and Indian Oceans. In addition, it is suggested to interpret the FAT hypothesis, and the more recent proportionately higher anvil temperature (PHAT) hypothesis, by using the temperature at the maximum cloud detrainment level instead of the CTT.

scholarly journals Multilayer Cloud Detection with the MODIS Near-Infrared Water Vapor Absorption Band

2010 ◽  
Vol 49 (11) ◽  
pp. 2315-2333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galina Wind ◽  
Steven Platnick ◽  
Michael D. King ◽  
Paul A. Hubanks ◽  
Michael J. Pavolonis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Precipitable Water ◽  
Detection Algorithm ◽  
Cloud Detection ◽  
Water Vapor Absorption ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
Cloud Models ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

Abstract Data Collection 5 processing for the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board the NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) Terra and Aqua spacecraft includes an algorithm for detecting multilayered clouds in daytime. The main objective of this algorithm is to detect multilayered cloud scenes, specifically optically thin ice cloud overlying a lower-level water cloud, that present difficulties for retrieving cloud effective radius using single-layer plane-parallel cloud models. The algorithm uses the MODIS 0.94-μm water vapor band along with CO2 bands to obtain two above-cloud precipitable water retrievals, the difference of which, in conjunction with additional tests, provides a map of where multilayered clouds might potentially exist. The presence of a multilayered cloud results in a large difference in retrievals of above-cloud properties between the CO2 and the 0.94-μm methods. In this paper the MODIS multilayered cloud algorithm is described, results of using the algorithm over example scenes are shown, and global statistics for multilayered clouds as observed by MODIS are discussed. A theoretical study of the algorithm behavior for simulated multilayered clouds is also given. Results are compared to two other comparable passive imager methods. A set of standard cloudy atmospheric profiles developed during the course of this investigation is also presented. The results lead to the conclusion that the MODIS multilayer cloud detection algorithm has some skill in identifying multilayered clouds with different thermodynamic phases.

scholarly journals MODIS-Derived Spatially Complete Surface Albedo Products: Spatial and Temporal Pixel Distribution and Zonal Averages

2008 ◽  
Vol 47 (11) ◽  
pp. 2879-2894 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric G. Moody ◽  
Michael D. King ◽  
Crystal B. Schaaf ◽  
Steven Platnick
Keyword(s):  
Land Surface ◽  
Surface Albedo ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Qualitative Comparison ◽  
Annual Cycles ◽  
Satellite Platform ◽  
Moderate Resolution ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

Abstract Five years (2000–04) of spatially complete snow-free land surface albedo data have been produced using high-quality-flagged diffuse bihemispherical (white sky) and direct-beam directional hemispherical (black sky) land surface albedo data derived from observations taken by the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument aboard the NASA Terra satellite platform (MOD43B3, collection 4). In addition, a spatially complete snow-free aggregate albedo climatological product was generated. These spatially complete products were prepared using an ecosystem-dependent temporal interpolation technique that retrieves missing data within 3%–8% error. These datasets have already been integrated into research and operational projects that require snow-free land surface albedo. As such, this paper provides details regarding the spatial and temporal distribution of the filled versus the original MOD43B3 data. The paper also explores the intra- and interannual variation in the 5-yr data record and provides a qualitative comparison of zonal averages and annual cycles of the filled versus the original MOD43B3 data. The analyses emphasize the data’s inter- and intraannual variation and show that the filled data exhibit large- and small-scale phenological behavior that is qualitatively similar to that of the original MOD43B3. These analyses thereby serve to showcase the inherent spectral, spatial, and temporal variability in the MOD43B3 data as well as the ability of the fill technique to preserve these unique regional and pixel-level phenological characteristics.

scholarly journals Evaluation of satellite-based aerosol datasets and the CAMS reanalysis over the ocean utilizing shipborne reference observations

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1387-1412
Author(s):  
Jonas Witthuhn ◽  
Anja Hünerbein ◽  
Hartwig Deneke
Keyword(s):  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Earth Observing System ◽  
Infrared Imager ◽  
Modis Aod ◽  
Moderate Resolution ◽  
Data Points ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ◽  
Reference Measurements ◽  
Aerosol Type

Abstract. Reliable reference measurements over the ocean are essential for the evaluation and improvement of satellite- and model-based aerosol datasets. Within the framework of the Maritime Aerosol Network, shipborne reference datasets have been collected over the Atlantic Ocean since 2004 with Microtops Sun photometers. These were recently complemented by measurements with the multi-spectral GUVis-3511 shadowband radiometer during five cruises with the research vessel Polarstern. The aerosol optical depth (AOD) uncertainty estimate of both shipborne instruments of ±0.02 can be confirmed if the GUVis instrument is cross calibrated to the Microtops instrument to account for differences in calibration, and if an empirical correction to account for the broad shadowband as well as the effects of forward scattering is introduced. Based on these two datasets, a comprehensive evaluation of aerosol products from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flown on NASA's Earth Observing System satellites, the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) aboard the geostationary Meteosat satellite, and the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service reanalysis (CAMS RA) is presented. For this purpose, focus is given to the accuracy of the AOD at 630 nm in combination with the Ångström exponent (AE), discussed in the context of the ambient aerosol type. In general, the evaluation of MODIS AOD from the official level-2 aerosol products of C6.1 against the Microtops AOD product confirms that 76 % of data points fall into the expected error limits given by previous validation studies. The SEVIRI-based AOD product exhibits a 25 % larger scatter than the MODIS AOD products at the instrument's native spectral channels. Further, the comparison of CAMS RA and MODIS AOD versus the shipborne reference shows similar performance for both datasets, with some differences arising from the assimilation and model assumptions. When considering aerosol conditions, an overestimation of AE is found for scenes dominated by desert dust for MODIS and SEVIRI products versus the shipborne reference dataset. As the composition of the mixture of aerosol in satellite products is constrained by model assumptions, this highlights the importance of considering the aerosol type in evaluation studies for identifying problematic aspects.

scholarly journals Angular Distribution Models for Top-of-Atmosphere Radiative Flux Estimation from the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System Instrument on the Terra Satellite. Part I: Methodology

2005 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 338-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norman G. Loeb ◽  
Seiji Kato ◽  
Konstantin Loukachine ◽  
Natividad Manalo-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Angular Distribution ◽  
Radiant Energy ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Radiative Fluxes ◽  
Earth Observing System ◽  
Moderate Resolution ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ◽  
Terra Satellite

Abstract The Clouds and Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) provides coincident global cloud and aerosol properties together with reflected solar, emitted terrestrial longwave, and infrared window radiative fluxes. These data are needed to improve the understanding and modeling of the interaction between clouds, aerosols, and radiation at the top of the atmosphere, surface, and within the atmosphere. This paper describes the approach used to estimate top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiative fluxes from instantaneous CERES radiance measurements on the Terra satellite. A key component involves the development of empirical angular distribution models (ADMs) that account for the angular dependence of the earth’s radiation field at the TOA. The CERES Terra ADMs are developed using 24 months of CERES radiances, coincident cloud and aerosol retrievals from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and meteorological parameters from the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO)’s Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) Data Assimilation System (DAS) V4.0.3 product. Scene information for the ADMs is from MODIS retrievals and GEOS DAS V4.0.3 properties over the ocean, land, desert, and snow for both clear and cloudy conditions. Because the CERES Terra ADMs are global, and far more CERES data are available on Terra than were available from CERES on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), the methodology used to define CERES Terra ADMs is different in many respects from that used to develop CERES TRMM ADMs, particularly over snow/sea ice, under cloudy conditions, and for clear scenes over land and desert.

scholarly journals Radiance Comparisons of MODIS and AIRS Using Spatial Response Information

2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (8) ◽  
pp. 1331-1342 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Schreier ◽  
B. H. Kahn ◽  
A. Eldering ◽  
D. A. Elliott ◽  
E. Fishbein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Response ◽  
Lapse Rate ◽  
Response Functions ◽  
Temperature Lapse Rate ◽  
Earth Observing System ◽  
Spatial Response ◽  
Response Information ◽  
Moderate Resolution ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ◽  
Water Vapor Mixing Ratio

Abstract The combination of multiple satellite instruments on a pixel-by-pixel basis is a difficult task, even for instruments collocated in space and time, such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on board the Earth Observing System (EOS) Aqua. Toward the goal of an improved collocation methodology, the channel- and scan angle–dependent spatial response functions of AIRS that were obtained from prelaunch measurements and calculated impacts from scan geometry are shown within the context of radiance comparisons. The AIRS spatial response functions are used to improve the averaging of MODIS radiances to the AIRS footprint, and the variability of brightness temperature differences (ΔTb) between MODIS and AIRS are quantified on a channel-by-channel basis. To test possible connections between ΔTb and the derived level 2 (L2) datasets, cloud characteristics derived from MODIS are used to highlight correlations between these quantities and ΔTb, especially for ice clouds in H2O and CO2 bands. Furthermore, correlations are quantified for temperature lapse rate (dT/dp) and the magnitude of water vapor mixing ratio (q) obtained from AIRS L2 retrievals. Larger values of dT/dp and q correlate well to larger values of ΔTb in the H2O and CO2 bands. These correlations were largely eliminated or reduced after the MODIS spectral response functions were shifted by recommended values. While this investigation shows that the AIRS spatial response functions are necessary to reduce the variability and skewness of ΔTb within heterogeneous scenes, improved knowledge about MODIS spectral response functions is necessary to reduce biases in ΔTb.

scholarly journals Evaluation of satellite-based aerosol datasets and the CAMS reanalysis over ocean utilizing shipborne reference observations

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Witthuhn ◽  
Anja Hünerbein ◽  
Hartwig Deneke
Keyword(s):  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Earth Observing System ◽  
Empirical Correction ◽  
Modis Aod ◽  
Moderate Resolution ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ◽  
Reference Measurements ◽  
Monitoring Service ◽  
Aerosol Type

Abstract. Reliable reference measurements over ocean are essential for the evaluation and improvement of satellite- and model-based aerosol datasets. Within the framework of the Maritime Aerosol Network, shipborne reference datasets have been collected over the Atlantic ocean since 2004 with Microtops sun photometers. These were recently complemented by measurements with the multi-spectral shadowband radiometer GUVis-3511 during five cruises with the research vessel Polarstern. The AOD uncertainty estimate of both ship-borne instruments of ±0.02 can be confirmed, if the GUVis instrument is cross-calibrated to the Microtops instrument to account for differences in calibration, and an empirical correction to account for the broad shadowband and the effects of forward-scattering is introduced. Based on these two datasets, a comprehensive evaluation of aerosol products from the Moderate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flown on NASA's Earth Observing System satellites, the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infra-Red Imager (SEVIRI) onboard the geostationary Meteosat satellite, and the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service reanalysis (CAMSRA) is presented. For this purpose, focus is given to the accuracy of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 630 nm in combination with the Angström exponent (AE), discussed in the context of the ambient aerosol type. In general, the evaluation of MODIS AOD from the official Level-2 aerosol products of C6.1 against the Microtops AOD product confirms that 76 % of datapoints fall into the expected error limits given by previous validation studies. The SEVIRI-based AOD product exhibits a 25 % larger scatter than the MODIS AOD products at the instrument's native spectral channels. Further, the comparison of CAMSRA and MODIS AOD versus the shipborne reference show similar performances of both datasets, with some differences arising from the assimilation and model assumptions. When considering aerosol conditions, an overestimation of AE is found for scenes dominated by desert dust for MODIS and SEVIRI products versus the shipborne reference dataset. This highlights the importance of considering aerosol type in evaluation studies for identifying problematic aspects.

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