Proven by multiple theoretical and practical studies,
multi-angular spectral polarimetry is ideal for comprehensive retrieval of
properties of aerosols. Furthermore, a large number of advanced space
...polarimeters have been launched recently or planned to be deployed in the
coming few years (Dubovik et al.,
2019). Nevertheless, at present, practical utilization of aerosol products
from polarimetry is rather limited, due to the relatively small number of
polarimetric compared to photometric observations, as well as challenges in
making full use of the extensive information content available in these
complex observations. Indeed, while in recent years several new algorithms
have been developed to provide enhanced aerosol retrievals from satellite
polarimetry, the practical value of available aerosol products from
polarimeters yet remains to be proven. In this regard, this paper presents
the analysis of aerosol products obtained by the Generalized Retrieval of
Atmosphere and Surface Properties (GRASP) algorithm from POLDER/PARASOL
observations. After about a decade of development, GRASP has been adapted
for operational processing of polarimetric satellite observations and
several aerosol products from POLDER/PARASOL observations have been
released. These updated PARASOL/GRASP products are publicly available (e.g.,
http://www.icare.univ-lille.fr, last access: 16 October 2018, http://www.grasp-open.com/products/, last access: 28 March 2020); the dataset used in the current study is
registered under https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3887265 (Chen
et al., 2020). The objective of this study is to comprehensively evaluate the GRASP aerosol
products obtained from POLDER/PARASOL observations. First, the validation of
the entire 2005–2013 archive was conducted by comparing to ground-based
Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) data. The subjects of the validation are
spectral aerosol optical depth (AOD), aerosol absorption optical depth
(AAOD) and single-scattering albedo (SSA) at six wavelengths, as well as
Ångström exponent (AE), fine-mode AOD (AODF) and coarse-mode AOD
(AODC) interpolated to the reference wavelength 550 nm. Second, an
inter-comparison of PARASOL/GRASP products with the PARASOL/Operational,
MODIS Dark Target (DT), Deep Blue (DB) and Multi-Angle Implementation of
Atmospheric Correction (MAIAC) aerosol products for the year 2008 was
performed. Over land both satellite data validations and inter-comparisons
were conducted separately for different surface types, discriminated by bins
of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI): < 0.2, 0.2 ≤
and < 0.4, 0.4 ≤ and < 0.6, and ≥ 0.6. Three
PARASOL/GRASP products were analyzed: GRASP/HP (“High Precision”),
Optimized and Models. These different products are consistent but were
obtained using different assumptions in aerosol modeling with different
accuracies of atmospheric radiative transfer (RT) calculations.
Specifically, when using GRASP/HP or Optimized there is direct retrieval of
the aerosol size distribution and spectral complex index of refraction. When
using GRASP/Models, the aerosol is approximated by a mixture of several
prescribed aerosol components, each with their own fixed size distribution
and optical properties, and only the concentrations of those components are
retrieved. GRASP/HP employs the most accurate RT calculations, while
GRASP/Optimized and GRASP/Models are optimized to achieve the best trade-off
between accuracy and speed. In all these three options, the underlying
surface reflectance is retrieved simultaneously with the aerosol properties,
and the radiative transfer calculations are performed “online” during the
retrieval. All validation results obtained for the full archive of PARASOL/GRASP
products show solid quality of retrieved aerosol characteristics. The
GRASP/Models retrievals, however, provided the most solid AOD products, e.g.,
AOD (550 nm) is unbiased and has the highest correlation (R ∼ 0.92) and the highest fraction of retrievals (∼ 55.3 %)
satisfying the accuracy requirements of the Global Climate Observing System
(GCOS) when compared to AERONET observations. GRASP/HP and GRASP/Optimized
AOD products show a non-negligible positive bias (∼ 0.07) when
AOD is low (< 0.2). On the other hand, the detailed aerosol
microphysical characteristics (AE, AODF, AODC, SSA, etc.) provided by
GRASP/HP and GRASP/Optimized correlate generally better with AERONET than do
the results of GRASP/Models. Overall, GRASP/HP processing demonstrates the
high quality of microphysical characteristics retrieval versus AERONET.
Evidently, the GRASP/Models approach is more adapted for retrieval of total AOD,
while the detailed aerosol microphysical properties are limited when a
mixture of aerosol models with fixed optical properties are used. The results of a comparative analysis of PARASOL/GRASP and MODIS products
showed that, based on validation against AERONET, the PARASOL/GRASP AOD (550 nm) product is of similar and sometimes of higher quality compared to the
MODIS products. All AOD retrievals are more accurate and in good agreement
over ocean. Over land, especially over bright surfaces, the retrieval
quality degrades and the differences in total AOD products increase. The
detailed aerosol characteristics, such as AE, AODF and AODC from
PARASOL/GRASP, are generally more reliable, especially over land. The global
inter-comparisons of PARASOL/GRASP versus MODIS showed rather robust
agreement, though some patterns and tendencies were observed. Over ocean,
PARASOL/Models and MODIS/DT AOD agree well with the correlation coefficient
of 0.92. Over land, the correlation between PARASOL/Models and the different
MODIS products is lower, ranging from 0.76 to 0.85. There is no significant
global offset; though over bright surfaces MODIS products tend to show
higher values compared to PARASOL/Models when AOD is low and smaller values
for moderate and high AODs. Seasonal AOD means suggest that PARASOL/GRASP
products show more biomass burning aerosol loading in central Africa and
dust over the Taklamakan Desert, but less AOD in the northern Sahara. It is
noticeable also that the correlation for the data over AERONET sites are
somewhat higher, suggesting that the retrieval assumptions generally work
better over AERONET sites than over the rest of the globe. One of the
potential reasons may be that MODIS retrievals, in general, rely more on
AERONET climatology than GRASP retrievals. Overall, the analysis shows that the quality of AOD retrieval from
multi-angular polarimetric observations like POLDER is at least comparable
to that of single-viewing MODIS-like imagers. At the same time, the
multi-angular polarimetric observations provide more information on other
aerosol properties (e.g., spectral AODF, AODC, AE), as well as additional
parameters such as AAOD and SSA.
The truncation problem Waquet, Fabien; Herman, Maurice
Journal of quantitative spectroscopy & radiative transfer,
05/2019, Letnik:
229
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
•A new correction of the biases introduced by the truncation for the downward and upward radiances is presented.•In comparison with previous studies, the truncation problem in polarization is ...addressed.•After correction, maximal errors do not exceed 0.001 for the degree of linear polarization, which is a sufficient accuracy for most applications based on polarimetric measurements.•This correction is used in the generalized retrieval of aerosol and surface properties (GRASP) algorithm.•The correction is applicable for any other resolution method (e.g. adding-doubling, discrete ordinate).
The truncation procedure is an approximation commonly used in plane-parallel radiative transfer codes, which consists in removing the forward scattering peak observed in the phase function of large particles (few microns) or cloud droplets, due to diffraction. This approximation allows faster calculations but introduces biases in the radiances modelled at the ground-based level and also at the top of the atmosphere in narrow angular intervals (cloud bows and glory). In this study, we recalled the principle of the truncation and present a new method to correct its flaws. In comparison with previous studies, we present here a full comprehensive correction and analysis of the truncation biases for the downward and upward radiances. For ground-level measurements, we add to truncated calculations an approximate expression of the successive scatterings in the truncated forward peak to restore the solar aureole. In case of satellite measurements, we reduce the biases found for narrow angular signatures simply by changing the expression of the primary scattering. After correction, maximal errors do not exceed 0.001 for the degree of linear polarization for optical thickness smaller than 2.0, which is a sufficient accuracy for most applications based on polarimetric measurements. This correction is available for both total and polarized radiances and is now implemented in successive order of scattering code used in the Generalized Retrieval of Aerosol and Surface Properties (GRASP) algorithm. The analysis of the problem is based on the method of successive orders, but the suggested corrections are applicable for any other resolution method (e.g. adding-doubling).
The properties of the aerosols over the ocean are re‐investigated by using the observations of the Polarization and Directionality of the Earth's Reflectance (POLDER) wide field of view imaging ...spectroradiometer developed by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) and operated aboard the Japanese heliosynchronous Advanced Earth Observation Satellite (ADEOS) platform from 30 October 1996 to 30 June 1997. The measurement analysis leads us to assume that aerosols consist of particles with a bimodal size distributions, in which the large particle mode generally consists of nonspherical particles. In all observations where there is evidence for the occurrence of nonspherical particles from the spectral, directional, and polarization characteristics of the solar radiation scattered by the aerosols, the average aerosol scattering matrix for irregular particles derived recently by Volten et al. (2001) from laboratory measurements proves to provide a very efficient model of these particles.
Remote sensing from satellite or airborne platforms of land or sea surfaces in the visible and near infrared is strongly affected by the presence of the atmosphere along the path from Sun to target ...(surface) to sensor. This paper presents 6S (Second Simulation of the Satellite Signal in the Solar Spectrum), a computer code which can accurately simulate the above problems. The 6S code is an improved version of 5S (Simulation of the Satellite Signal in the Solar Spectrum), developed by the Laboratoire d'Optique Atmospherique ten years ago. The new version now permits calculations of near-nadir (down-looking) aircraft observations, accounting for target elevation, non lambertian surface conditions, and new absorbing species (CH/sub 4/, N/sub 2/O, CO). The computational accuracy for Rayleigh and aerosol scattering effects has been improved by the use of state-of-the-art approximations and implementation of the successive order of scattering (SOS) algorithm. The step size (resolution) used for spectral integration has been improved to 2.5 nm. The goal of this paper is not to provide a complete description of the methods used as that information is detailed in the 6S manual, but rather to illustrate the impact of the improvements between 5S and 6S by examining some typical remote sensing situations. Nevertheless, the 6S code has still limitations. It cannot handle spherical atmosphere and as a result, it cannot be used for limb observations. In addition, the decoupling the authors are using for absorption and scattering effects does not allow to use the code in presence of strong absorption bands.
Cloud phase recognition is important for cloud studies. Ice crystals correspond to physical process and properties that differ from those of liquid water drops. The angular polarization signature is ...a good mean to discriminate between spherical and nonspherical particles (liquid and ice phase, respectively). POLDER (Polarization and Directionality of Earth Reflectances) has been launched on the Japanese ADEOS platform in August 1996. Because of its multidirectional, multispectral, and multipolarization capabilities this new radiometer gives useful information on clouds and their influence on radiation in the shortwave range. The POLDER bidirectional observation capability provides the polarization signatures within a large range of scattering angles in three spectral bands centered on 0.443, 0.670, and 0.865 μm with a spatial resolution of 6.2 km×6.2 km. These original features allow to obtain some information both on cloud thermodynamic phase and on cloud microphysics (size/shape). According to POLDER airborne observations, liquid cloud droplets exhibit very specific polarization features of a rainbow for scattering angles near 140°. Conversely, theoretical studies of scattering by various crystalline particles and also airborne measurements show that the rainbow characteristics disappear as soon as the particles depart from the spherical shape. In the paper the POLDER algorithm for cloud phase classification is presented, as well as the physical principle of this algorithm. Results derived from the POLDER spaceborne version are also presented and compared with lidar ground‐based observations and satellite cloud classification. This cloud phase classification method is shown to be reliable. The major limitation appears when thin cirrus clouds overlap the liquid cloud layer. In this case, if the cirrus optical thickness is smaller than 2, the liquid phase may be retrieved. Otherwise, the ice phase is correctly detected as long as cloud detection works.
Results of POLDER in-flight calibration Hagolle, O.; Goloub, P.; Deschamps, P.-Y. ...
IEEE transactions on geoscience and remote sensing,
05/1999, Letnik:
37, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
POLDER is a CNES instrument on board NASDA's ADEOS polar orbiting satellite, which was successfully launched in August 1996. On October 30, 1996, POLDER entered its nominal acquisition phase and ...worked perfectly until ADEOS's early end of service on June 30, 1997. POLDER is a multispectral imaging radiometer/polarimeter designed to collect global and repetitive observations of the solar radiation reflected by the Earth/atmosphere system, with a wide field of view (2400 km) and a moderate geometric resolution (6 km). The instrument concept is based on telecentric optics, on a rotating wheel carrying 15 spectral filters and polarizers, and on a bidimensional charge coupled device (CCD) detector array. In addition to the classical measurement and mapping characteristics of a narrow-band imaging radiometer, POLDER has a unique ability to measure polarized reflectances using three polarizers (for three of its eight spectral bands, 443 to 910 nm) and to observe target reflectances from 13 different viewing directions during a single satellite pass. One of POLDER's original features is that its in-flight radiometric calibration does not rely on any on-board device. Many calibration methods using well-characterized calibration targets have been developed to achieve a very high calibration accuracy. This paper presents the various methods implemented in the in-flight calibration plan and the results obtained during the instrument calibration phase: absolute calibration over molecular scattering, interband calibration over sunglint and clouds, multiangular calibration over deserts and clouds, intercalibration with Ocean Color and Temperature Scanner (OCTS), and water vapor channels calibration over sunglint using meteorological analysis. A brief description of the algorithm and of the performances of each method is given.
Presents a large set of spectral and directional signatures of the polarized reflectance acquired over various surfaces. Two analytical physically-based models were developed, one for bare soils and ...the other for simple vegetation cover. They consider that the polarized reflectance is generated by single specular reflection over isotropically distributed facets or leaves. The models accurately reproduce the order of magnitude and the directional signature of the reflectance for view angles of up to {approximately equal to}55 deg . It confirms that specular reflection is the main process that generates polarization over natural surfaces. Polarized light generated by other processes, and that are not accounted for by the models, can be observed however in the backscattering direction where single specular reflection does not yield polarization. Although spectral variations in the polarized reflectance are observed, they are explained by atmospheric effects on the direct solar beam. The atmospheric correction yields a surface polarized reflectance which is larger than the model estimate, but is still on the same order of magnitude. For the simple canopies studied, the authors' results suggest that, except for particular events such as the "heading" of a canopy, vegetation will generate little variability in the polarized reflectance making this information unsuitable for monitoring of the canopies. On the other hand, since the models accurately predict the polarized reflectance from the surface, they can be used to correct airborne or spaceborne polarized reflectance measurements when the inversion of aerosol parameters is attempted
This paper presents the principles and performances of the stratospheric aerosol correction schemes for the Polarization and Directionality of the Earth's Reflectances (POLDER) spatial polarimeter ...measurements and the method used to derive, from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II (SAGE II) data, the information about the aerosols that is needed for the correction. On the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS) platform since August 1996, POLDER performs multidirectional measurements, both of reflectance and of polarization in visible and near-infrared spectral bands. These new observational capabilities are used to observe clouds, lands, ocean surfaces, and tropospheric aerosols. These observations are weakly perturbed by the stratospheric aerosols, whose amount is currently low, but in the case of a major volcanic eruption, would increase strongly for few years. The possibility of such a situation has to be considered. Moreover, even near background conditions, the stratospheric aerosols perturb accurate retrieval of the ocean color and products deduced from the polarized light. That is why a systematic correction of their influence on the measured signal has been developed.
The POLDER instrument is designed to provide wide field of view bidimensional images in polarized light. During campaigns of the airborne version of the instrument, images of homogeneous cloud fields ...were acquired in polarized bands centered at 450 and 850 nm. The polarization of these images is analyzed. The bidirectional polarization distribution function measured in the 850 nm band is shown to make evident the liquid phase of the cloud droplets, by the large characteristic polarization of the cloudbows detected in backward scattering directions. The sensitivity of this feature to cloud parameters is discussed. On the contrary, for observation directions at about 90/spl deg/-100/spl deg/ from the Sun, the cloud polarization is negligible. In these directions, the polarized light observed in the 450 nm band is characteristic of the molecular scattering about the cloud, which allows the cloud top altitude to be derived. The feasibility of the method is analyzed and is tested on cloud pictures acquired at different altitudes above cloud fields.< >
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