Improved aerosol optical depth and particle size index from satellite detected radiance.
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Authors
Miller, Brian Herbert
Subjects
Aerosols
optical depth
particle size index
phase function
optical depth
particle size index
phase function
Advisors
Durkee, Philip A.
Date of Issue
1991-12
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
An algorithm that extracts aerosol optical depth and particle size index from satellite
observations of upwelling radiance over clear ocean areas was modified and studied. In
order to examine the algorithm's performance on a regional scale, a previously analyzed
data set, retrieved by the NOAA-9 AVHRR sensor, was reprocessed. The area of the
study was in the central Pacific Ocean during the RITS-88 cruise from 7 April to 5 May
1988. The results were compared to those of the earlier study and used to investigate
changes caused by modifications to the algorithm. One significant modification was to
account for the absorption of column water vapor in the calculations. In addition, the
correlation between aerosol optical depth and the two-term Henyey-Greenstein phase
function was investigated by normalizing measured radiance values.
The results compared well with the earlier study and supported the modifications to
the algorithm. Based on this study, aerosol optical depth was shown to be correlated to
the Henyey-Greenstein phase function. This knowledge helped in formulating improvements
to the phase function.
It was concluded that satellite imaging and processing on a regional scale is a useful
way to study marine aerosols, that results can be improved by considering the effects of
atmospheric water vapor absorption and other modifications to the calculations, and
that there is room for improvement to the two-term Henyey-Greenstein phase function.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Meteorology;Physical Oceanography
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
49 p.;28 cm.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.