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Rapid technique to cross-calibrate satellite imager visible channels

2004; SPIE; Volume: 5542; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1117/12.560138

1996-756X

Louis Nguyen, David R. Doelling, Patrick Minnis, J. Kirk Ayers,

Infrared Target Detection Methodologies

Rapid and accurate calibrations of satellite imager sensors are critical for remote sensing of surface, cloud and radiative properties. A post-launch technique has been developed to routinely cross calibrate and normalize the imager visible (VIS) channel on-board operational geostationary (GEO) and low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites. As a reference calibration source, this simple approach uses the self-calibrating sensor from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS) to calibrate other GEO and LEO satellites. The VIRS sensors have been found to be a stable and reliable reference source. This technique uses VIRS to calibrate the eighth Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-8) VIS sensor using collocated data with similar viewing zenith, solar zenith, and relative azimuth angles. GOES-8 is then used as a transfer medium to cross calibrate other GEO and LEO satellites. Post-launch VIS (~0.65 µm) calibration coefficients for GOES-8, -9, -10, -12, Meteosat-7, -8, and NOAA-14 AVHRR satellites are presented. GOES-8 had a non-linear degradation rate of 11% the first year of operational service and 4% in last year before it was decommissioned. GOES-9 degraded linearly at 7.9% per year during 1995-1998. GOES-10 degraded 12% the first year and 1.6% less each year after that. GOES-12 degraded 6% per year. The VIRS visible channel calibration is in good agreement with the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments on-board the Terra and Aqua satellites supporting its use as a reference.