MISR Column Aerosol Products
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Aerosol retrievals are provided for each individual orbit over a 380-km wide swath (Level 2) and for globally gridded monthly and seasonal aggregates (Level 3). Global coverage is obtained about once per week. Uses multi-angle/multispectral imaging capability of MISR (9 view angles, from nadir to 70º forward and aft in each of 446, 558, 672, 866 nm spectral bands). Over ocean, only the 672, 866 nm spectral bands are applied. Unique strengths include accurate optical depth retrievals over bright desert source regions and distinction of aerosol type based on size, shape, and single-scattering albedo constraints under favourable retrieval conditions.
Example results
| Satellite | TERRA (NASA) |
| Instrument(s) | Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) |
| Instrument / Algorithm PI | David J. Diner, Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
| Contact Details |
David.J.Diner[at]jpl.nasa.gov, Michael.J.Garay[at] jpl.nasa.gov, Ralph.Kahn[at]nasa.gov |
| Parameter(s) | Aerosol optical depth, 3-to-5 size bins (small, medium, large), fraction AOD non-spherical, and a qualitative constraint on SSA (absorbing/non-absorbing) |
| Aerosol algorithm | Different for DarkWater and Heterogeneous Land Surfaces |
| Cloud screening |
RCCM (radiometric)/SDCM (stereo)/ASCM (angular- spectral)/angular smoothness/angular correlation methods |
| Aerosol model | Bimodal and trimodal mixtures of spherical absorbing and non-absorbing particles, plus non-spherical dust models |
| Retrieval assumptions | Negligible ocean water-leaving radiance at 672, 866 nm; spectral invariance of land surface angular reflectance factor; uniform aerosol type over 17.6 km retrieval regions; limited selection of aerosol components and mixtures |
| Retrieval limitations | Not applicable over Case 2 waters, homogeneous snow/ice, cloud, complex terrain |
| Spatial, temporal coverage | ±80° latitude, dayside, late February 2000 to present Spatial, temporal resolution: 17.6 km / 380 km / 16 day orbit repeat period; every 9 days at equator, 2 days near poles |
| Operations status | Operational |
| Validation status | Validated against ground-based and aircraft sunphotometers |
| Quality control | Goodness of fit thresholding |
| last algorithm version | Version 22 (12/2007) |
| last validation | 2010; ongoing |
| Algorithm description | Product format description |
| Version explanation | Validation summary |
| Publications |
| Product data access |
| Image / quicklook data access |